Colonel Ignacio A. Assaf is the 159th Deputy Commander of the 159th Fighter Wing, New Orleans, LA. He is responsible for assisting the Wing Commander in formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans and programs affecting more than 1,500 Louisiana Air National Guard Airmen and civilians throughout the State.
Colonel Assaf was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Metairie, Louisiana at the age of three where he graduated from Archbishop Rummel High School in 1988. He graduated from the University of New Orleans in 2003, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Information Systems. In September 1989, Colonel Assaf enlisted in the Louisiana Air National Guard at the rank of Airman Basic as an Aerospace Propulsion Specialist in the 159th Fighter Wing Maintenance Squadron. In June 1994, Colonel Assaf became a fulltime technician in the Propulsion section in the Internal Acoustics Noise Suppression System Facility. In December 1998, he moved to the 159th Logistics Support Flight as a Maintenance Operations Center controller where he achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant.
In October 2000, he received his commission from the Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, Tennessee as the honor graduate and became the commander of the Logistics Support Flight. In February 2004, Colonel Assaf became the sortie generation officer and the logistics manager of the 159th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and later in 2007, became the commander. In March 2009, Colonel Assaf moved to the 159th Maintenance Squadron as its commander, where he led the squadron that he enlisted in 20 years previously. In November 2010, his assignment changed to the 159th Maintenance Group Deputy Commander. In February 2011, Colonel Assaf entered the other half of the Logistics career field and left the maintenance group to join the 159th Mission Support Group as the 159th Logistics Readiness Commander. In June 2012, he deployed to the United Arab Emirates as part of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. In January 2013, he became the A4R Distribution Branch Chief at the ANGRC, Joint Base Andrews MD. In that position, he developed policy, provided guidance, and gave advice and assistance to the Logistics Readiness Division Chief and Logistics Directorate Senior Leadership for strategic recommendations for over 320 ANG logistics units in the logistics support of over 1,100 aircraft and 15,000 vehicles valued at over $1.2 billion dollars of assets. In 2017, he returned to the 159th Fighter Wing as the 159th Maintenance Group Deputy Commander again assisting the Maintenance Group Commander. In 2022, he assumed command of the 159th Maintenance Group where he prepared over 500 maintenance and combat communications personnel for federal and state missions as well as the sortie production and sustainment of 21 F-15C Eagle fighters and associated support equipment valued at over $600 million dollars.
EDUCATION:
1989 Basic Military Training School, (Honor Graduate)
2000 Academy of Military Science, (Honor Graduate)
2003 Bachelor of Science University of New Orleans
2009 Squadron Officers’ School
2014 Air Command & Staff College
2020 Air War College
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Sep 1989 – May 1998, Aerospace Propulsion Specialist, 159th Maintenance Squadron, New Orleans, LA
- May 1998 – September 2000, MOC controller, 159th Logistics Support Flight, New Orleans, LA
- September 2000 – February 2003, Flight Commander, 159th Logistics Support Flight, New Orleans, LA
- February 2003 – February 2004, Flight Commander, 159th Maintenance Operations Flight, New Orleans, LA
- February 2004 – August 2007, Sortie Generation Officer, 159th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, New Orleans, LA
- August 2007 – March 2009, Squadron Commander, 159th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, New Orleans, LA
- March 2009 – November 2010, Squadron Commander, 159th Maintenance Squadron, New Orleans, LA
- November 2010 – February 2011, Deputy Commander, 159th Maintenance Group, New Orleans, LA
- February 2011 – January 2013, Squadron Commander, 159th Logistics Readiness Squadron, New Orleans, LA
- January 2013 – August 2017, Chief, Distribution Branch, ANGRC, Joint Base Andrews MD.
- August 2017 – 8 January 2022, Deputy Commander, 159th Maintenance Group, 159th Fighter Wing, LA.
- 9 January 2022-20 December 2024, Commander, 159th Maintenance Group, 159th Fighter Wing, LA.
- 21 December 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, 159th Fighter Wing, 159th Fighter Wing, LA.
AWARDS & DECORATIONS:
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate, 1989
Academy of Military Science Honor Graduate, 2000
Chief’s Choice Award, 2002
Outstanding Unit Commander, 2011
NGB/A4R FGO of the quarter, 2014
Air National Guard, Action Officer of the Year, 2016
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorius Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal with one device
Humanitarian Service Medal with one device
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service with seven oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two devices
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate
Air and Space Training Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
STATE AWARDS
Louisiana Legion of Merit
Louisiana Commendation Medal with two devices
Louisiana War Cross
Louisiana Cold War Victory Award
Louisiana Emergency Service Medal with two devices
Louisiana F Edward Hebert Meritorious Unit Commendation
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Lieutenant – 27 October 2000
First Lieutenant – 27 October 2002
Captain – 29 October 2004
Lieutenant Colonel – 8 Feb 2009
Lieutenant Colonel – 15 September 2015
Colonel – 27 January 2022