Wing commander nominated for promotion

The commander of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base has been nominated for promotion to brigadier general.

In a press statement released by the Pentagon, Col. Christopher M. Short was one of 31 Air Force colonels under consideration for promotion.

The colonel is a 1989 graduate of the Air Force Academy with a degree in history. Following undergraduate pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., he went on to become a T-38 instructor pilot.

In 1996, Short was named a distinguished graduate from the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals course at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., and began flying A-10 and OA-10 aircraft. In March 2000, he was named the top graduate from the F-15E follow-on training unit at Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.

During his nearly 25-year career, the colonel has served in a variety of flight-related duties, including assistant director of operations, squadron operations officer and chief of safety. He commanded the 492nd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England, before serving in a staff position at Headquarters Air Force before he became the deputy chief of staff for U.S. Pacific Command. Short served as the vice commander of the 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., before he took command at Mountain Home Air Force Base.

A command pilot, he has more than 3,300 flying hours in various aircraft, including T-37 and T-38 trainers, A-10 and OA-10 fighters as well as the F-15E Strike Eagle. His major awards include the Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with valor device, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

The colonel's nomination now goes to the U.S. Senate for final approval.