Colonel Jayson W. Cabell is the Commander, 81st Mission Support Group, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. He commands the base combat support, logistics, and service activities for 114,000 military, civilians, dependents, and retirees by leading more than 1,650 military, civilian, and contractor personnel. He budgets for and expends $126 million in annual funds while maintaining and providing security for real property and equipment valued at $4.7 billion. In addition, he manages a fleet of 422 vehicles valued at $26 million and 5,000 pieces of technical training equipment. He also oversees contract award administration totaling $250 million that includes a team of 900 contract employees and ensures the vigilance of 48,000 miles of communications cabling and information technology equipment valued at $50 million. Colonel Cabell serves as the base director of the crisis/emergency operations center and represents Keesler in working with Mississippi and Gulf Coast leaders on issues affecting the base and surrounding communities.
Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Cabell was a Senior Developmental Education student at The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC. In this capacity, he was studying strategic and operational concepts to develop national security strategy and the ability to evaluate, marshal, and manage resources in the execution of that strategy. Colonel Cabell received his commission from Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in March 2002. He has served in numerous capacities within the Financial Management and Comptroller career field to include financial services, financial analysis, programming, and budgeting. Colonel Cabell has commanded at the squadron level two times and has deployed two times to Afghanistan in support of contingency operations. He has also served in positions at the Joint Staff, Headquarters Air Force, Major Command, and installation level within the United States and abroad. EDUCATION 2001 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Concord University, Athens, West Virginia 2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 2006 Master of Business Administration, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California 2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, by correspondence 2019 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, by correspondence 2024 Master of Science in National Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ASSIGNMENTS
1.April 2002 – September 2003, Deputy Commander, Financial Services Flight, 1st Comptroller Squadron,Joint Base Langley- Eustis, Virginia
2.September 2003 – September 2004, Commander, Financial Services Flight, 1st Comptroller Squadron, JointBase Langley- Eustis, Virginia
3.September 2004 – May 2006, Air Force Institute of Technology Student, Naval Postgraduate School,Monterey, California
4.May 2006 – May 2009, Comptroller, 470th Air Base Squadron, Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, Germany
5.May 2009 – August 2011, Deputy Comptroller, 62d Comptroller Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord,Washington
6.August 2011 – October 2012, Deputy Chief, Budget Operations Branch, United States Air Forces in Europe,Ramstein AB, Germany
7.October 2012 – June 2013, Chief, Budget Integration Branch, United States Air Forces in Europe, RamsteinAB, Germany
8.June 2013 – June 2016, Commander, 81st Comptroller Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
9.June 2016 – August 2018, Commander, 99th Comptroller Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada
10.August 2018 – July 2021, Defense Resource Manager, Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, andAssessment, J-8, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington DC
11.July 2021 – June 2022, Chief, Budget Formulation, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC
12.June 2022 – July 2023, Chief, Budget Integration Division, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington,DC
13.July 2023 – July 2024, Senior Developmental Education Student, The Eisenhower School for NationalSecurity and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC
14.July 2024 – Present, Commander, Mission Support Group, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1.August 2018 – July 2021, Defense Resource Manager, Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment, J-8, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington DC as a Lieutenant Colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant
March 1, 2002
First Lieutenant
March 1, 2004
Captain
March 1, 2006
Major
February 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel
January 1, 2017
Colonel
July 1, 2023
(Current as of July 2024)