Swansenreport

Here’s a detailed look at Colonel Allison K. Black, USAF (“Allison Black”), her background, career, and why she’s been a notable figure.

⸻

Who She Is
• Name: Allison Black (Allison K. Black)
• Rank: Colonel (retired)
• Service: United States Air Force, specifically in Air Force Special Operations (AFSOC) units.

⸻

Key Career Highlights
1. Enlisted Beginnings & SERE
• She joined the Air Force in 1992 as an enlisted member.
• Early in her career she was a SERE specialist (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, & Escape) and served as a SERE instructor.
2. Becoming an Officer and Pilot/Navigator
• She was commissioned through Officer Training School in 1998 after earning a bachelor’s degree from Wayland Baptist University.
• Later, she earned her wings and became a navigator/pilot in AC-130H gunships and also flew in U-28A Draco.
3. Combat Experience & Nickname “Angel of Death”
• Much of her combat experience came in the War in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom).
• She logged a very large number of combat hours: over 2,000 combat flight hours among her total of ~3,400 flight hours.
• Her radio transmissions calling in air support—especially during early operations after 9/11—earned her the nickname “Angel of Death”.
4. Leadership Roles
• She commanded at multiple levels, culminating in being Commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing (1st SOW) at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
• In that role, she oversaw thousands of service members and civilians, multiple squadrons, and aircraft types including gunships, mobility aircraft, and intelligence/surveillance platforms.
5. Retirement
• She turned over command of the 1st SOW in February 2024 and retired from active duty later that year.

⸻

Achievements, Awards & Education
• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree from Wayland Baptist University
• Master’s in Strategic Communications from George Mason University
• Master’s in Security Studies from National Defense University
• Awards & Decorations:
She earned many military decorations, including but not limited to:
• Bronze Star Medal
• Air Medal with multiple oak leaf clusters
• Combat Action Medal
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, NATO Medal, and others.

⸻

Why She’s Notable
• Trailblazer: She became one of the more high-profile women in U.S. Air Force Special Operations, especially notable for commanding a major special operations wing.
• Operational Impact: Her role in AC-130 gunships (which are heavily involved in close air support, interdiction, etc.), especially in the earliest days after 9/11 in Afghanistan, made her a key actor in numerous operations. Her radio-calls helped direct important strikes.
• Cultural Symbol: The nickname “Angel of Death,” especially in the Afghan theater, took on significance beyond just military radio traffic—it became part of how various Afghan actors perceived U.S. air power and women in combat.

⸻