Colonel Jill Heliker is the Commander, 81st Training Group, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss where she commands the United States Air Force’s second largest technical training group consisting of more than 4,000 officer, enlisted, and civilian personnel from all five Department of War services and international militaries. She leads 1,100 instructors and staff who deliver courses to over 2,500 non-prior service Airmen and 500 temporary duty students daily, ultimately producing 27,000 warfighters annually.
In 2004 Colonel Heliker earned her commission through ROTC at Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA. She has served in a variety of cyber assignments at the Squadron, Group, Numbered Air Force, Major Command and Combatant Command levels. Her Squadron and Group-level experience includes support to the National Security Agency and extensive leadership and command positions within Air Education and Training Command. Colonel Heliker’s staff experience includes Air Force Central Command, Air Combat Command, various positions within United States Air Forces in Europe, and as a joint planner and executive officer at U.S. European Command. Prior to this assignment, Colonel Heliker served as the Division Chief of Cyberspace Transformation, Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2006 Masters in Business Administration, Webster University
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2018 Air Command and Staff College, in-residence, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2025 Air War College, in-residence, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2004 - June 2008, Project Planner, OIC Network Management, 95th Communications Group, Edwards AFB, Calif
2. June 2008 - August 2011, Deputy Flight Commander, Communications and Information Flight, Flight Commander,
Communications and Information Flight, and Director of Operations, 381st Intelligence Sq, Elmendorf AFB, AK (April
2009 - October 2009, NSA IT lead, Regional Command-South, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan)
3. August 2011 - August 2013, Branch Chief, Theater Engineering, AFCENT/A6, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
4. August 2013 - June 2014, C4 Contingency Planner, USAFE/A6, Ramstein AB, DE
5. June 2014 - June 2015, Branch Chief, Exercises and Engagements, USAFE/A6, Ramstein AB, DE
6. June 2015 - March 2016, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander, 3d Air Force, Ramstein AB, DE
7. March 2016 – July 2018, Air University Intermediate Development Education Fellowship, Maxwell AFB, Ala
8. July 2018 – July 2020, Commander, 336th Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss
9. July 2020 – July 2022, Deputy Group Commander, 81st Training Group, Keesler AFB, Miss
10. July 2022 – December 2022, Branch Chief, C4 Support Operations, USEUCOM/J6, Stuttgart, DE
11. December 2022 – March 2023, Division Chief, Operations and Planning Division, USEUCOM/J6, Stuttgart, DE
12. March 2023 – July 2024, Executive Officer to the Civilian Deputy/Foreign Policy Advisor, USEUCOM, Stuttgart, DE
13. July 2024 – May 2025, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala
14. June 2025 – June 2026, Division Chief, Cyberspace Transformation, ACC/A6, JB Langley-Eustis, Va.
15. June 2026 – Present, Commander, 81st Training Group, Keesler AFB, Miss
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 13, 2004
First Lieutenant June 13, 2006
Captain June 13, 2008
Major December 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2019
Colonel May 1, 2025
(CURRENT AS OF JUNE 2026)