Colonel Jesse Simmons, Jr., commander of the 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, recently received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement while serving as Deputy Commander in Afghanistan at Bagram Airfield from May to September of 2009.  The citation that accompanied the medal states that Col. Simmons personified “exemplary leadership, personal endeavor, and devotion to duty” in a position of much responsibility that “reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force”.

During this particular tour in Afghanistan, Simmons supervised an Operations Group consisting of nine squadrons and two flights and orchestrated the efforts of more than 800 soldiers, sailors and airmen.  The Group Col. Simmons supervised provided air support, electronic attack, combat search and rescue, combat airlift and airdrop and aeromedical evacuation throughout Afghanistan and Southwest Asia.

The Rincon, Ga. resident, Simmons has over 4,800 flying hours and has performed 96 combat missions in Southwest Asia and 140 combat support missions in South America and Southwest Asia.  He is a graduate of Hixson High School and The University of Tennessee – Chattanooga.  He is the son of Jesse and Clara Simmons of Chattanooga.  

Contact: Lt. Col. David Simons 713-4944 (Cell)