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Amanda O. Williams

Amanda O. Williams is the Executive Director, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In this position, she serves as the senior civilian leader to the commander supporting headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Third Air Force, two tenant wings and more than 120 mission partners, to include the integration of and caring for the greater Kaiserslautern Military Community and its 56,000 U.S. service members, civilians and families. As the Executive Director, Ms. Williams oversees the Wing Staff Agencies supporting seven groups and 30 squadrons across four bases in Germany, Spain, Belgium and Portugal that comprise the 86 AW. The wing’s mission is to Project Power and Create Community. The 86 AW conducts USAFE-AFAFRICA’s only airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation flying operations, providing rapid mobility and expeditionary combat support for military operations.

Prior to her position in the 86 AW, Ms. Williams served as the Chief of Staff, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. She oversaw enroute aircraft maintenance, command and control, air transportation services, expeditionary air crew support, and aeromedical evacuation for theater and strategic taskings.  She provided executive leadership, support and continuity to the Wing Commander, Deputy Commander, and Command Chief as a member of the wing’s senior staff. She delivered daily operational guidance to diverse wing staff agencies in support of the wing’s 19 operating locations spanning 5,000 miles across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. 

Ms. Williams was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, graduated high school from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, in 1988, where she was a member of the Women’s Varsity Basketball Team. She served in the Air Force for 25 years on active duty.

 

EDUCATION

1988  Bachelor of Science, Organizational Development, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.

1994  Master of Science, Management, National-Louis University, Evanston, Ill.

1999  Master of Science, Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2003  Master of Science, Global Strategic Studies, AU, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2010  Enterprise Leadership, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottsville, Va.

2012  NATO/UN Political-Economic Conflict Certificate, Washington, D.C.

2020  Life Coach Certification, Atlanta, Ga.

 

ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY

1.    1988-1989, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach and PE Instructor, USAFA, Colo.

2.    1989-1992, Intelligence Systems Program Manager, AFIA/DIA, Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.

3.    1992-1994, Executive Officer and HQ Section Commander, HQ AF/IN Washington, D.C.

4.    1994-1997, Flight Commander, 23rd Wing, Pope AFB, N.C.

5.    1997-1998, Executive Officer, 43rd Airlift Wing, Pope AFB, N.C.

6.    1998-1999, Student, Air Command Staff and College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

7.    1999-2001, Commander, 314th Communications Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.

8.    2001-2002, Deputy Commander, 5th Combat Communications Group, Robins AFB, Ga.

9.    2002-2003, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

10.  2003-2005, Chief, JS Spectrum Management Office, Joint Staff/J6, Washington, D.C.

11.  2005-2007, Commander, 48th Mission Support Group, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom

12.  2007-2009, Director (A6), Communications & Information Directorate, AFISR Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas

13.  2009-2010, Director, Office Chief Information Office, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.

14.  2010-2012, Commander, 88th Air Base Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

15.  2012-2013, Director (J6), C4 and CIO, HQ Special Operations Command-Europe, Stuttgart, Germany

16.  2015-2016, Campaign Manager, N.C.

17.  2016-2017, Substitute Teacher, Seoul, Republic of Korea

18.  2019-2020, Director, Communications & Community Relations, ChildSafe, Children’s Advocacy Center,

San Antonio, Texas

19.  2020-2023, Director of Staff, 62d Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash.

20.  2023-2024, Chief of Staff, JBSA and 502d Air Base Wing, Fort Sam Houston, Texas

21.  2024-2026, Chief of Staff, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany

22.  2026-Present, Executive Director, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany  

(Current as of February 2026)

Amanda O. Williams

Amanda O. Williams is the Executive Director, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In this position, she serves as the senior civilian leader to the commander supporting headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Third Air Force, two tenant wings and more than 120 mission partners, to include the integration of and caring for the greater Kaiserslautern Military Community and its 56,000 U.S. service members, civilians and families. As the Executive Director, Ms. Williams oversees the Wing Staff Agencies supporting seven groups and 30 squadrons across four bases in Germany, Spain, Belgium and Portugal that comprise the 86 AW. The wing’s mission is to Project Power and Create Community. The 86 AW conducts USAFE-AFAFRICA’s only airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation flying operations, providing rapid mobility and expeditionary combat support for military operations.

Prior to her position in the 86 AW, Ms. Williams served as the Chief of Staff, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. She oversaw enroute aircraft maintenance, command and control, air transportation services, expeditionary air crew support, and aeromedical evacuation for theater and strategic taskings.  She provided executive leadership, support and continuity to the Wing Commander, Deputy Commander, and Command Chief as a member of the wing’s senior staff. She delivered daily operational guidance to diverse wing staff agencies in support of the wing’s 19 operating locations spanning 5,000 miles across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. 

Ms. Williams was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, graduated high school from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, in 1988, where she was a member of the Women’s Varsity Basketball Team. She served in the Air Force for 25 years on active duty.

 

EDUCATION

1988  Bachelor of Science, Organizational Development, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.

1994  Master of Science, Management, National-Louis University, Evanston, Ill.

1999  Master of Science, Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2003  Master of Science, Global Strategic Studies, AU, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2010  Enterprise Leadership, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottsville, Va.

2012  NATO/UN Political-Economic Conflict Certificate, Washington, D.C.

2020  Life Coach Certification, Atlanta, Ga.

 

ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY

1.    1988-1989, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach and PE Instructor, USAFA, Colo.

2.    1989-1992, Intelligence Systems Program Manager, AFIA/DIA, Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.

3.    1992-1994, Executive Officer and HQ Section Commander, HQ AF/IN Washington, D.C.

4.    1994-1997, Flight Commander, 23rd Wing, Pope AFB, N.C.

5.    1997-1998, Executive Officer, 43rd Airlift Wing, Pope AFB, N.C.

6.    1998-1999, Student, Air Command Staff and College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

7.    1999-2001, Commander, 314th Communications Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.

8.    2001-2002, Deputy Commander, 5th Combat Communications Group, Robins AFB, Ga.

9.    2002-2003, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

10.  2003-2005, Chief, JS Spectrum Management Office, Joint Staff/J6, Washington, D.C.

11.  2005-2007, Commander, 48th Mission Support Group, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom

12.  2007-2009, Director (A6), Communications & Information Directorate, AFISR Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas

13.  2009-2010, Director, Office Chief Information Office, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.

14.  2010-2012, Commander, 88th Air Base Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

15.  2012-2013, Director (J6), C4 and CIO, HQ Special Operations Command-Europe, Stuttgart, Germany

16.  2015-2016, Campaign Manager, N.C.

17.  2016-2017, Substitute Teacher, Seoul, Republic of Korea

18.  2019-2020, Director, Communications & Community Relations, ChildSafe, Children’s Advocacy Center,

San Antonio, Texas

19.  2020-2023, Director of Staff, 62d Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash.

20.  2023-2024, Chief of Staff, JBSA and 502d Air Base Wing, Fort Sam Houston, Texas

21.  2024-2026, Chief of Staff, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany

22.  2026-Present, Executive Director, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany  

(Current as of February 2026)