Colonel William (Will) C. Powell is the Commander, Air Force Public Affairs Agency, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, a field operating agency reporting to the Secretary of the Air Force Director of Public Affairs, with more than 270 people at six locations. The agency provides global Combat Camera and video production capabilities and specialized program management for the public affairs career field. Programs managed by the agency’s team include establishing standards, researching, testing, and purchasing equipment and systems, public web hosting for the Air Force, archiving and measuring distribution of products, and public affairs intellectual property management.
Colonel Powell enlisted in the Air Force in 1997, serving three years as an aircraft electrician and environmental specialist. He received his commission in 2004 from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Tennessee with a degree in mass communications

EDUCATION

2004 Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn. 2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course, Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
2009 Air Force Public Affairs Leadership Enrichment Course (intermediate level), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master’s degree in Public Relations Management, University of Maryland University College, Md.
2017 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2022 Air War College (by correspondence)

ASSIGNMENTS

1. November 1997 – April 1998, student, Electrical and Environmental Systems training, Sheppard AFB, Texas.
2. April 1998 – July 2000, Electrical and Environmental Systems specialist, Travis AFB, Calif.
3. July 2004 – September 2006, deputy chief, Internal Information, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. September 2006 – August 2009, deputy chief and chief, Public Affairs, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas.
5. August 2009 – October 2012, chief, Public Affairs, 5th Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
6. October 2012 – July 2016, chief of leadership development, chief of force integration and deputy division chief, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. July 2016 – June 2017, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. June 2017 – July 2019, public affairs advisor and speechwriter to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. August 2019 – July 2022, chief, Public Affairs, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany.
10. July 2022 – June 2024, commander, 1st Combat Camera Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
11. June 2024 – June 2025, director, Public Affairs, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), Shaw AFB, S.C.
12. July 2025 – present, commander, Air Force Public Affairs Agency, Joint Base San Antonio- Randolph, Texas.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster 
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters 
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal 
Air Force Recognition Ribbon 
National Defense Service Medal 
Afghanistan Campaign Medal 
Iraqi Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal 
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal 
Humanitarian Service Medal with two service stars 
NATO Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant    June 7, 2004
First Lieutenant         June 7, 2006
Captainiiin                 June 7, 2008
Major                         November 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel    May 1, 2019
Colonel                      March 1, 2025