Meet the commander - Col. Ronald Pieri

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ty-Rico Lea
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
9/24/2015 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Commanders come in all shapes and sizes and have set plans to project air dominance in order to carry out the Air Force's mission.

Meet Col. Ronald Pieri, the new commander of the 325th Mission Support Group. Born and raised in Sacramento, California, Pieri attended Del Campo High School and participated in soccer as a center fullback and rugby as a fly-half.

While pursuing a career in the medical field and weighing the option of doing four years of undergrad, four years of medical school and a few years of internships, he realized that the work may outweigh the gain.

"When I was a kid I wanted to be a medical doctor," said Pieri. "I thought the opportunity to help people and make money was a great combination."

Pieri has served more than 23 years in the Air Force. He is the only member in his family to serve in the Armed Forces. Pieri grew up alongside two brothers; one older and one younger. "I've brought them to visit on occasions," said Pieri. "They have a great amount of respect for all members of the armed forces."

After becoming acquainted with military jets and speaking with several fighter pilots in his youth he took interest in followed suit.
"The more I hung around the old fighter pilots the more I thought it would be the best job in the world," said Pieri. "So off I went to the Air Force Academy."

Pieri expressed his appreciation for his assignment at Kunsan Air Base, Korea and the experiences he shared with other Airmen there.

"It was truly something I didn't expect," he said. "When you're over there and you're surrounded by people who have the same mission--to get aircraft in the air and thump the adversary, it makes the assignment all the more enjoyable. So everyone works hard and plays hard."

Pieri served as squadron commander at four other installations, the 15th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hickam AFB, Hawaii; 611th Civil Engineer Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Kuwait and the 819th RED HORSE Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, Mont.

"After 23 years of service, never did I think I'd be sitting here as a group commander," said Pieri. "When back surgery eliminated my PQ status, my initial plan was to perform duties in my major as a civil engineer for another four years."

Loss of professional qualification, or PQ status, can effectively ground a pilot for the rest of his career.

"But it was at my first RED HORSE assignment at Hurlburt Field where my commander convinced me to remain in service; and here I am today."