Colonel Sean C. Routier is the Vice Commander for the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The 8th Fighter Wing plans, supports, and executes military operations to include counterair, interdiction, and close air support. The wing consists or more than 2,700 active duty personnel, four groups and 13 squadrons, including two F-16 fighter squadrons.

Colonel Routier, a native of Northampton, Mass., was commissioned in 1994 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He earned his wings through Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training and graduated initial F-16 training at Luke Air Force Base in 1997. His flying assignments include duties as instructor pilot, flight examiner, and assistant operations officer, with command at the squadron level. As Commander, 21st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, he led and directed more than 120 active duty, reserve, Taiwan, and civilian personnel responsible for training Taiwan pilots in advanced F-16 tactics as part of the $5.9 billion PEACE FENGHUANG program. His staff assignments included working F-16 related programs for the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, Headquarters Air Force; and Director of Staff/Chief of Safety for the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan in Kabul.

Prior to this assignment, Colonel Routier served as the Inspector General for the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. Colonel Routier is a command pilot with more than 2,800 hours, has flown in four major commands, and has 250 combat hours in Southwest Asia.

EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master of Business Administration degree, Touro University International
2007 Master of Military Operational Art and Science degree, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1994 - March 1995, executive officer, 90th Flying Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB,
Texas
2. March 1995 - April 1996, student, undergraduate pilot training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. April 1996 - June 1996, student pilot, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas
4. June 1996 - July 1997, F-16 student pilot, 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. July 1997 - April 2000, Chief of Life Support and instructor pilot, 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. April 2000 - April 2001, Chief of Squadron Safety and F-16 instructor pilot, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
7. April 2001 - October 2003, flight commander and flight examiner, 522nd Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
8. October 2003 - June 2006, Assistant Director of Operations and flight examiner, 64th Aggressor Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. June 2006 - June 2007, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2007 - May 2009, Chief, F-16 and Air to Ground Weapons, Policy Division, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs), the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. May 2009 - August 2009, student, F-16 Transition Course, Kelly Field, Texas
12. August 2009 - January 2010, student, instructor pilot upgrade, 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
13. January 2010 - June 2011, Director of Operations, 310th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
14. June 2011 - April 2013, Commander, 21st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
15. April 2013 - April 2014, Director of Staff/Chief of Safety, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan
16. April 2014 - July 2014, Deputy Commander, 56th Operations Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
17. July 2014 - July 2016, Inspector General, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy
18. July 2016 - Present, Vice Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,800 Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38 and F-16

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 1994
First Lieutenant June 1, 1996
Captain June 1, 1998
Major August 1, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2009
Colonel November 1, 2015

(Current as of July 2016)