Assistant Commandant

Col. Jason R. “VERBAL” Guyette

Col Jason R. Guyette currently serves as the Assistant Commandant, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, and the Commander, 517th Training Group, Presidio of Monterey, California. In this capacity, Col Guyette directs language training for 28,000 Department of Defense personnel annually in 79 languages at 19 sites worldwide. He also oversees 1,800 faculty members and 250 joint-service staff providing language training, proficiency testing, and curriculum to train successful linguists. As the 517th Training Group Commander, Col Guyette leads two Air Force squadrons composed of 1,200 Airmen, the majority of whom are Air Force Cryptologic Linguist trainees.

Col Guyette began his career as a Scientific Applications Specialist before receiving his commission from Officer Training School in 2005. He has commanded overseas deployments and led teams at the 609th Air and Space Operations Center in the Combat Operations and Combat Plans Divisions. He served as an operations officer at the National Security Agency and Central Intelligence Agency, and as a resident fellow at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, advancing cutting-edge research on neurological enhancement, artificial intelligence, directed energy, and cyber-electromagnetic activities. He is a master electronic warfare officer, senior intelligence officer, and senior cyberspace operator, and has led airborne electronic warfare support and sensitive reconnaissance operations missions throughout INDOPACOM, EUCOM, and CENTCOM. Prior to this assignment, Col Guyette served as the Commander, U.S. Air Force Element and Chief, Strategy and Assessments Division. Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

EDUCATION

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Oct 05 – Feb 07, Student, Navigator and Electronic Warfare training, Randolph AFB TX
2. Feb 07 – Jun 08, RC-135S Electronic warfare officer (EWO) student, 338th Combat Training Squadron, Offutt AFB NE
3. Jun 08 – Jun 09, EWO and operations scheduler, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB NE
4. Jun 09 – Sep 11, Instructor EWO and deputy chief of scheduling, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB NE
5. Sep 11 – Mar 12, Instructor mission commander and assistant flight commander, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB NE
6. Mar 12 – Dec 12, Evaluator mission commander and action officer, Commander’s Action Group, 55th Operations Group, Offutt AFB NE
7. Dec 12 – May 13, Flight commander, Strategic Automated Command Control System Flight, 55th Strategic Communications Squadron, Offutt AFB NE
8. May 13 – Aug 14, Executive officer, 55th Communications Group, Offutt AFB NE
9. Aug 14 – Jul 15, Director of wing cryptologic support and squadron assistant director of operations, 55th Intelligence Support Squadron, Offutt AFB NE
10. Jul 15 – Jul 17, NSA intern and operations officer, 70th Operations Support Squadron, Fort Meade MD
11. Jul 17 – Jul 18, USAF Fellow, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington VA
12. Jul 18 – Jul 19, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB AL
13. Jul 19 – Jun 20, Director, 55th Wing Operations Center, Offutt AFB NE
14. Jul 19 – Jul 22, Commander, 55th Intelligence Support Squadron, Offutt AFB NE
15. Jul 22 – Jun 23, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington DC
16. Jun 23 – Jun 25, Commander, USAF Element, and division chief, Strategy and Assessments, Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir VA
17. Jun 25 – Present, Commander, 517th Training Group and Assistant Commandant, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Presidio of Monterey CA

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Master Combat Systems Officer
Flight Hours: More than 1,500, including 98 Combat Hours Aircraft Flown: RC-135S, RC-135V/W

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Armed Forces Service Medal
Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and seven oak leaf clusters

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant, Aug 2005
First Lieutenant, Aug 2007
Captain, Aug 2009
Major, Feb 2016
Lieutenant Colonel, Oct 2018
Colonel, May 2024

(Current as of June 2025)