Colonel Ronald E. Jolly is the new Commander at Sheppard Air Force Base, where the United States Air Force trains students to fly, fight and win…in air, space and cyberspace.

The 82nd Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, produces nearly half of all Air Force technical training graduates annually, delivering instruction in aircraft maintenance, logistics, and civil engineer and telecommunications career fields.

At Sheppard Air Force Base, Col. Jolly is responsible for the training of more than 60,000 Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and international officer and enlisted students and more than 60 units throughout the world.

In March 2017, Col. Jolly was selected to the grade of brigadier general, according to the assignment of general officers from the U.S. Department of Defense in March. He served as an associate director in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations, Security, and Civil Engineering at the Pentagon from July 2016.

Col. Jolly is a fully qualified aircraft maintenance officer and has served tours as an Air Base Wing commander, Air Logistics Complex Deputy Commander for Maintenance, Chief of Staff for Headquarters, U.S. Central Command Directorate of Logistics and Engineering, Maintenance Group Commander, Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, staff officer at the Headquarters Air Force level, and numerous wing level maintenance and logistics positions.

Jolly graduated high school in Lawton, Oklahoma. He entered active duty after being commissioned through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Oklahoma State University in December 1990.

He started his career with the AFROTC program at the University of North Texas in August 1991. He graduated from the Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer Course in January 1993 and began his career as an aircraft maintenance and munitions officer at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

He has commanded aircraft maintenance organizations at both the Group and Squadron levels supporting flying operations for F-15C/D/E, F-16, and F-5E/F aircraft and has deployed on multiple occasions in support of operations.

Col. Jolly graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from Oklahoma State University in 1990. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Management from Troy State University – Atlantic Region and a Master’s Degree in Military Operational Art & Science from Air Command & Staff College.