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Today's Featured Biography
Julio Lopez
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
COLONEL JULIO R. ZORRO LOPEZ
Colonel Julio R. Zorro Lopez Jr., is the Chief of the Forces Division within the Force Generation Center (FGC), Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. The FGC is the single agency responsible for generating Air Force Reserve forces by leveraging AFR strategic capability to meet operational needs in support of global force management. The FGF Division performs all aspects of Aviation, Expeditionary Combat Support, and Mobilization to include volunteerism oversight, visibility and accountability of all Air Force Reserve sourcing solutions to the combatant commander.
Colonel Lopez began his career upon graduation from the University of Washington in 1984 followed by undergraduate pilot training at Fort Rucker, Ala. He has served in several instructor pilot, supervisory, and command positions. Colonel Lopez has also served as the deployed operations officer during multiple special operations, combat search and rescue, and airlift missions in support of Operations PROVIDE COMFORT II, DESERT STRIKE, NORTHERN WATCH, ALLIED FORCE, SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, CORONET OAK, and UNIFIED RESPONSE.
Colonel Lopez joined the Air Force Reserve in 1994 as a traditional reservist. He later accepted an Air Reserve Technician (ART) position in 1998 as one of four full time instructor pilots. Colonel Lopez has most recently served as initial cadre for the new Force Generation Center (FGC). Previously he served as the Commander of the 35th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and Operation CORONET OAK. He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flight hours in various aircraft, including over 234 combat and combat support hours.
EDUCATION
1984 Bachelor of Arts Degree, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.
1986 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Fort Rucker, Ala.
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Chief of Safety Course, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2004 Air Command and Staff College
2007 Air War College
2008 Masters of Aeronautical Science, Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Fla.
2012 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1984 June 1985, platoon leader, 361st Psyop Co (DS), Fort Lawton, Wash.
2. July 1985 June 1986, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Fort Rucker, Ala.
3. July 1986 Sept. 1987, operations officer, Aviation Detachment -3, HHC (-) 81st SIB, Fort Lewis, Wash.
4. Oct. 1987 Sept. 1989, platoon leader, Attack Helicopter Troop, 116th Armored Cavalry, Fort Lewis, Wash.
5. Nov. 1989 March 1990, student, Maintenance Test Pilot course, Fort Eustis, Va.
6. March 1990 April 1992, platoon leader, III/V Platoon, HHSC, 1-168th Aviation (Atk Hel), Fort Lewis, Wash.
7. March 1992 Aug. 1992, student, Aviation Officer Advance course, Fort Rucker, Ala.
8. Sept. 1992 Dec. 1993, maintenance officer, 1-168th Aviation (Atk Hel), Fort Lewis, Wash.
9. Jan. 1994 Aug. 1999, instructor pilot, 304th Rescue Squadron (ACC), Portland IAP, Ore.
10. Aug. 1999 Aug. 2003, instructor pilot, 301st Rescue Squadron (ACC), Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
11. Aug. 2003 June 2005, Vice Commander, 920th Operations Group (AFSOC), Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
12. July 2005 Aug. 2006, executive officer, 920th Rescue Wing (AFSOC),, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
13. Aug. 2006 Oct. 2007, Commander, 920th Operations Support Flight, 920th Rescue Wing (ACC), Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
14. Oct. 2007 July 2009, rescue/special operations HH-60G Functional Area Manager (FAM), HQ AFRC, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
15. July 2009 May 2010, Commander, AEF CORONET OAK, 35th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Muniz Air Base, Puerto Rico.
16. June 2010 Present, Chief, Forces Division, Force Generation Center (FGC), Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,000 flight hours
Aircraft Flown: C-130H3/2/E, M/HH-60G, T-37B, UH-60L/A, AH-1F/S, OH-58A, UH-1H/V, C-172/152, TH-55A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and five oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with one device
Kosovo Campaign Medal with one device
Iraq Campaign Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with one device
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with numeral 7 device
Armed Forces Reserve Medal silver hour glass device, M device and numeral 2 device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one device
Air Force Training Ribbon
Army Training Ribbon
NATO Medal (Kosovo)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Sikorsky Aircraft Rescue Award (1995, 1998, 1999)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Air Force Association
Reserve Officers Association (lifetime member)
Officers Club
Military Officers Association
Civil Air Patrol
American Legion
Order of Daedalians
Knights of Columbus
Golden Key International Honour Society
Delta Tau Delta Fraternity
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 9, 1984
First Lieutenant June 8, 1987
Captain May 21, 1991
Major May 21, 1998
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 30, 2004
Colonel July 1, 2009
(Current as of July 2012)
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