Col. Joseph F. Roos is the Commander of the Eastern Air Defense Sector in Rome, New York. A headquarters element of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, EADS is responsible for the air defense of the eastern U.S. and reports directly to the Continental U.S. NORAD Region–1st Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Northern and U.S. Air Forces Space) at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
A native of East Syracuse, New York, Col. Roos graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1996 with a civil engineering degree. Commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps, his first assignment was with the 325th Training Squadron at Tyndall AFB, where he earned the Undergraduate Air Battle Manager School’s Distinguished Graduate award. After ABM training, he was assigned to the 603rd Air Control Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy. During his three-year tour, he was qualified as a Weapons Director, Evaluator Air Surveillance Officer and Evaluator Senior Director. While with the 603rd, Col. Roos participated in Operations Deliberate Guard, Noble Anvil and Allied Force and was Air Forces Europe Air Battle Manager of the Year for 1999.
In 2000, Col. Roos returned to the 325th Training Squadron, where he served as an Instructor Air Battle Manager, Flight Commander, and Chief of Training. Responsible for the instruction of more than one-third of the nine-month course, Col. Roos taught more than 500 future air battle managers and was named 325th Air Control Squadron Flight Commander of the Year for 2002.
In 2003, Col. Roos joined the New York Air National Guard and was assigned to EADS. From 2003 to present, he has served in a variety of positions including Evaluator Senior Director, Evaluator Mission Crew Commander, Flight Commander, Inspector General, Standardization and Evaluation Chief, Director of Operations, and 224th Air Defense Squadron Commander. Prior to his current position, Col. Roos was the Commander of the 224th Air Defense Group.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1996–May 1997, Student, Air Battle Manager Training, 325th Training Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
2. May 1997–May 2000, Chief Combat Operations, 603rd Air Control Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy
3. May 2000–January 2003, Instructor ABM & Flight Commander, 325th Training Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. January 2003–October 2003, Chief of Training, 325th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
5. October 2003–September 2007, Officer in Charge of Weapons, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
6. September 2007–October 2010, Assistant Chief Standardization and Evaluation, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
7. October 2010–June 2015, Flight Commander & Assistant Flight Commander, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
8. June 2015–June 2017, 224th Air Defense Group Inspector General, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
9. June 2017–January 2018, 224th Air Defense Squadron Chief, Standardization & Evaluation, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
10. January 2018–September 2018, Director of Operations 224th Air Defense Squadron, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
11. September 2018–May 2020, Commander, 224th Air Defense Squadron, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
12. May 2020–May 2023, Commander, 224th Air Defense Group, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
13. May 2023–present, Commander, Eastern Air Defense Sector, Rome, N.Y.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant June 17, 1996
First Lieutenant June 17, 1998
Captain June 17, 2000
Major Dec. 20, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 13, 2011
Colonel July 31, 2019
(Current as of June 2023)