Meet Lt. Col. Jonathan Terry

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Originally in line to join the United States Army, one man decided to take a different but similar path; the United States Air Force.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Terry, 325th Contracting Squadron commander, comes from a military family, an Army family, but ultimately chose the USAF.

Born in Landstuhl, Germany, Colonel Terry didn't get to experience being a "military brat," because at the age of four his father retired from the Army at the rank of master sergeant.

Growing up in North Carolina, Colonel Terry graduated from Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville.

Throughout high school, the colonel was very active in sports, playing in basketball, tennis, football and golf. Being captain of his sports teams was just a glimpse of the leadership qualities he possessed.

After high school, he remained in close proximity to his home by attending Methodist University in Fayetteville. In 1994, he eventually earned his commission through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at Fayetteville State University.

His military career began at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., where he gained his first operational contracting experience in Sept. 1994.
Following his first assignment, Colonel Terry was assigned to the B-2 Program Office at Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in June 1998, where he gained systems contracting experience.

In May 2000, he was selected for the Headquarters USAF Logistics Career Broadening Program at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. From there, in April 2004, he was hand-picked to serve as Chief, Contracting Officer Assignments at Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

He soon returned to his home state when he became the 43rd Contracting Squadron commander at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., in April 2006.

Almost two years later, Colonel Terry took his second command position. In June 2008, he became the commander of the 325th Contracting Squadron here at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

In support of Operation Enduring Freedom the contracting commander was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, from September 2009 to March 2010. While deployed, he was the principal assistant responsible for the contracting liaison office, Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. In addition, he advised the command in executing 3.2 billion dollars, supporting Afghan and Coalition forces.

When September comes, it will mark 16 years in the military for Colonel Terry.

"Family support has been key in my military career," he said. "Moving seven times in a 15-year period can be rough."

Colonel Terry is married to the former Michelle Wilson and they have three children; daughters McKenzie (10) and Jadyn (7) and son, Chase (5).

"The best advice I have ever received came from my parents: 'whatever you do...do it well,' said Colonel Terry. "And I have done this my whole life."

With possibly one more year at Tyndall and his next assignment undecided, the colonel plans to retire at 20 years in the service.

For a closer look at the 325th Contracting Squadron click here.