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Posted in Hometown News Releases
For immediate release.
Air Force Col. Joseph L. Romano III has relinquished command of the 37th Training Group at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. For his distinguished meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services as group commander from June 2008 to August 2010, he was decorated with the Legion of Merit Medal. The Legion of Merit Medal, the nation’s fifth highest medal, is awarded to members of all the U.S. Armed Forces for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The performance must have been such as to merit recognition of key individuals for service rendered in a clearly exceptional manner. Col. Romano commanded the Air Force’s largest technical training group, delivering more than 74,000 Department of Defense and international graduates in 31 enlisted and officer specialties in support of combat operations. He focused in leading the reduction in non-training time by 1.2 days, saving 2.5 million dollars and reducing the student-out-of-training day to 12.14 from a 15-day command average, saving the Air Force 3.9 million dollars. His drive for excellence bolstered the effectiveness of the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Program. Under Romano’s direction, 167 specialized search dog teams, 442 kennel masters, 732 multipurpose dogs, and 1,105 handlers were produced and delivered to support multi-service commanders. His continued commitment to provide the Air Force with Warrior airmen of character resulted in the establishment of the Air Force Security Forces Academy, a decision that aligned all aspects of formal security forces training under the 343rd Training Squadron. This action allowed the career field to capitalize on efficiencies and guaranteed consistent training philosophies across 64 courses. He answered the call when combatant commanders needed additional battlefield airmen. His response resulted in graduating more than 170 combat controllers and special tactics officers from the apprentice course and drove combat control manning to more than 90 percent for the first time in history. As an advocate of realistic training, his guidance was paramount in the acquisition of 111 million dollars of aircrew training devices, including an MH-53 helicopter, a C-20 Gulfstream aircraft, and a historic KC-135 tanker aircraft. He planned and executed a 106 million dollar Base Realignment and Closure Committee-directed relocation of the 345th Training Squadron to Fort Lee, Va. His drive for success, superior initiative, outstanding leadership and personal endeavor resulted in the group receiving an overall “Excellent” rating during the 2009 Headquarters Air Education and Training Command Unit Compliance Inspection. Romano currently serves as Chief of Security and Special Programs Division at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. The colonel has served in the military for 33 years. He is the brother of Karen Hedrick of Springfield, Pa; Denise Romano of Drexel Hill, Pa; Mike Romano of Havertown, Pa; and Rick Romano of Downingtown, Pa. His wife, Karen, is the daughter of Nora Knelp of Sherrills Ford Road, Salisbury, N.C. The colonel graduated in 1975 from Upper Darby Senior High School, Pa.. He earned master’s degrees in 1989 from George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and in 1999 from Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.