Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Gates is the Commander of the 337th Recruiting Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. As commander, she plans, organizes, leads and controls the recruiting activities of seven enlisted accessions flights with approximately 90 active-duty and nine civilian personnel. The 337 RCS's area of responsibility covers a 64,000-square-mile region in North Carolina and South Carolina. Its mission is to inspire, engage and recruit the next generation of Airmen for service in America’s Air Force as well as Guardians for the U.S. Space Force.
Lieutenant Colonel Gates graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she also earned her commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 2008. She is a career Intelligence Officer and has served in various analysis and leadership roles within the career field. Additionally, she deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and completed overseas tours in Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Italy.
EDUCATION
2008 Bachelor’s in Fine Arts & Humanities, Chinese Language & Literature, University of MA, Amherst
2008 Air and Space Basic Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2008 Intelligence Officer Course, 315th Training Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, TX
2012 Master’s in Business Administration & Management, University of Phoenix, AZ
2014 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2017 Master’s in Public Administration, International Relations-Political Science, Northeast Asia Focus, Troy State University, AL
2018 ISR Master Skills Course, 313th Training Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, TX
2019 Air Command & Staff College, correspondence, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2022 Joint Targeting, Joint Targeting School, Dam Neck, VA
2024 Joint Combined Warfighting School, JPME II, Norfolk, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2008 – June 2009, Student, Intelligence Officer Course, 315th Training Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, TX
2. June 2009 – April 2011, Flight Command & Mission Director, 301st Intelligence Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan (July 2010 – April 2011, Officer in Charge, Cryptologic Support Team, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM)
3. April 2011 – September 2012, Executive Officer, 373rd ISR Group/Misawa Security Operations Center, Misawa AB, Japan
4. September 2012 – September 2013, Chief, Squadron Intelligence, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
5. September 2013 – June 2014, Flight Commander, DCGS Analysis & Reporting, 6th Intelligence Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
6. June 2014 – February 2015, Flight Commander, DCGS Operations Training, 6th Intelligence Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
7. February 2015 – September 2016, Executive Officer & Aide, Vice Commander, Seventh Air Force, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
8. September 2016 – May 2018, ISR Assessments Analyst, 25th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, TX
9. May 2018 – November 2018, Branch Chief, Operations Integration, 25th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, TX
10. November 2018 – June 2021, Senior Intelligence Officer, Wing Intelligence, 31st Operations Support Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy
11. June 2021 – November 2022, Chief, J2 Targeting, Joint Interagency Task Force South, Key West, FL
12. November 2022 – June 2024, Division Chief, Intelligence Operations, Joint Interagency Task Force South, Key West, FL
13. June 2024 – Present, Commander, 337th Recruiting Squadron, Shaw AFB, SC
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2018 31st Operations Group Team of the Year
2019 31st Operations Group Tuskegee Airman FGO of the Year
2019 31st Fighter Wing Gears of Government Team Award
2019 Headquarters United States Air Force ISR Awards Program Operations Support Squadron Intelligence Team of the Year
2020 31st Fighter Wing ISR Awards Program FGO of the Year
2020 United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa ISR Awards Program Operations Support Squadron Intelligence Team of the Year
2020 31st Fighter Wing Air Force Association Citation of Honor
2021 US Southern Command ISR Awards Program FGO of the Year
2021 US Southern Command ISR Awards Program Operations Support Squadron Intelligence Team of the Year
2022 US Southern Command Sijan FGO of the Year
Current as of Sept 30, 2024