Col. Shelby B. Henry
Colonel Shelby B. Henry is the Deputy Joint Base Commander and Commander, 627th Air Base Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. As Deputy Joint Base Commander, she is responsible with the Joint Base Commander for an organization comprised of 4,475 military and civilian personnel that supports more than 350 units and an installation population of 44,209 military, 15,240 civilian and contract employees, and 54,465 family members. Along with the Joint Base Commander, she manages an annual budget of $438 million and is responsible for installation management, facility maintenance and construction, environmental protection, housing, emergency management, communication systems, security and law enforcement, fire protection, dining, lodging, recreational services, human resources management, and supply and vehicle fleet management. As Commander, 627th Air Base Group, she is responsible for organizing, training and equipping more than 800 Airmen in five squadrons, the Chaplain's Corps and Equal Opportunity offices; executing installation support at home station and providing Expeditionary Combat Support to military operations worldwide.
Colonel Henry earned her commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in 2002 at Arizona State University. She has a broad range of logistics, planning and strategy development experience at the wing, MAJCOM, Air Staff and interagency levels. She has commanded the 17th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas and the 89th Aerial Port Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Colonel Henry has deployed several times in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN. Prior to her current position, she was the Senior Military Advisor, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Exercise Science, Arizona State University
2003 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2003 Logistics Readiness Officer Basic Course, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2006 Master of Arts, Human Relations, University of Oklahoma
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2011 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence)
2012 Advanced Logistics Readiness Officer Course, Fort Dix, New Jersey
2018 Air War College (Correspondence)
2023 Master of Science in National Security and Resource Strategy, The Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. September 2002 – September 2004, Officer in Charge, Aircraft Parts Store, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
2. September 2004 – September 2005, Officer in Charge, Combat Readiness, 731st Air Mobility Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea
3. September 2005 – February 2006, Flight Commander, Materiel Management, 15th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
4. February 2006 – February 2008, Installation Deployment Officer and Flight Commander, Installation Readiness, 15th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
5. February 2008 – September 2009, Wing Executive Officer, 15th Airlift Wing, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
6. October 2009 – January 2011, Chief, Deployments and Policy, 21R Functional Area Manager, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
7. February 2011 – August 2012, Chief, Logistics Management Operations Branch and 21R Functional Area Manager, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
8. August 2012 – June 2013, Fellow, Education with Industry Program – UPS, Alpharetta, Georgia
9. July 2013 – June 2015, Operations Officer, 60th Aerial Port Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, California
10. June 2015 – June 2017, Commander, 17th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
11. July 2017 – July 2020, Commander, 89th Aerial Port Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
12. August 2020 – August 2022, Chief, Plans and Systems Branch, War Plans and Policy Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
13. August 2022 – June 2023, Student, The Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
14. July 2023 – May 2024, Deputy Director, National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C.
15. May 2024 – July 2025, Senior Military Advisor, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C.
16. July 2025 – Present, Commander, 627th Air Base Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2023 – May 2024, Deputy Director, National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C., as a Colonel
2. May 2024 – July 2025, Senior Military Advisor, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C., as a Colonel
3. July 2025 – Present, Commander, 627th Air Base Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, as a Colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
2014 Air Mobility Command Logistics Readiness Field Grade Officer of the Year
2019 Air Mobility Command General Lew Allen Field Grade Officer of the Year
2021 Headquarters Air Force, A3 Field Grade Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant August 23, 2002
First Lieutenant September 6, 2004
Captain September 6, 2006
Major October 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2017
Colonel May 1, 2023
(Current as of July 2025)