Colonel Stephanie L. Sheppard serves as the 124th Mission Support Group Commander for the Idaho Air National Guard, Boise, Idaho. She leads the 124th Security Forces Squadron, 124th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 124th Force Support Squadron, 124th Civil Engineering Squadron (including Fire Department and Emergency Management), and the 124th Communications Flight. Through these units she provides both direct and indirect support to units of Gowen Field, the Idaho Army National Guard, Naval Reserve, US Marine Corps Reserve, the State of Idaho Military Division and Idaho Office of Emergency Management.
Colonel Sheppard began her military career in 1990 as an enlisted Airman in the Idaho Air National Guard. She received her commission in 1994 through the Academy of Military Science at Knoxville, TN becoming a traditional Personnel Officer the following year. Simultaneously, she served as the Operations Officer for the Idaho National Guard Counterdrug Support Office until selected to become a Logistics Management Officer in 1997. In 1999, she became the Commander of the Security Forces Squadron where she led the squadron during the aftermath of the Sep 11th terrorist attacks, deploying to Masirah Island Air Base, Oman in December 2002. In 2004, she accepted a full time AGR position as a Logistics Readiness Officer, leading the 124th Wing through the first Operational Readiness Inspection in 16 years. She was selected as the Idaho Air Guard's first full time Antiterrorism Officer 2007 and again took command of the Security Forces Squadron deploying to Eskan Village, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2008 as the Operations Officer for 64th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. In 2012 Col Sheppard was selected to attend Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Ala. graduating in 2013. In December 2013, she became the Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, College of Idaho, Caldwell, Idaho
1993 Associates in Information Management, Community College of the Air Force
2001 Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon
2002 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2005 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2013 Air War College, Masters in Strategic Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1994 - April 1997, OIC Customer Support, 124th Mission Support Flight, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
2. April 1997 - April 1999, Logistics Management Officer, 124th Wing, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
3. April 1999 - October 1999, LG Executive Officer, 124th Logistics Group, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
4. October 1999 - May 2005, Commander, 124th Security Forces Squadron, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
5. November 2004 - April 2007, Logistics Readiness Officer, 124th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
6. April 2007 - July 2012, Commander, 124th Security Forces Squadron, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
7. July 2012 - May 2013, Air War College Student, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. June 2013 - December 2013, Commander, 124th Security Forces Squadron and Installation Antiterrorism Officer, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
9. January 2014 - September 2015, Commander 124th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
10. September 2015 - Present, Commander 124th Mission Support Group, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and one oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with gold star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
AF Overseas Ribbon Short with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
AF Longevity Service with one silver oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 'M' Device
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)
AF Training Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation
Idaho Adjutant General's Outstanding Unit Citation with 2 oak leaf clusters
Idaho Recruiting Ribbon
Idaho Service Ribbon with 4 oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 1994
First Lieutenant December 1996
Captain December 1998
Major December 2002
Lieutenant Colonel December 2009
Colonel December 2015
(Current as of November 2016)