Colonel Benjamin W. Robbins currently serves as the Commander of the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard. Prior to this assignment, Col. Robbins was the Operations Group Commander of the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard.
Col. Robbins received a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University of Daytona Beach, Florida, and his Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University of New Jersey. He graduated basic training in 1995 and later earned a commission from The Academy of Military Services in 2002. He completed Joint Undergraduate Pilot Training in 2003. Col. Robbins is a graduate of Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College.
Col. Robbins is a Command Pilot and Instructor Pilot with more than 2,300 hours and 350 combat hours in the F-16. He has participated in Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and NOBLE EAGLE. Prior to his current position, he served as the 466th Air Expeditionary Group Commander, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, the 119th Fighter Squadron Commander, Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, New Jersey and Air Forces Northern (AFNORTH) liaison to Navy Northern (NAVNORTH) and Marine Forces Northern (MARFORNORTH).
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aero University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2002 Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson Air Force Base (AFB), Tenn.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of Business Administration, Rutgers University, N.J.
2015 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Oct 1995 – Jul 1996, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. Aug 1996 – Oct 1999, F-16 Crew Chief, Shaw AFB, S.C.
3. Oct 1999 – Feb 2002, KC-135 Crew Chief, 161 ARW, Sky Harbor ANGB, Ariz.
4. Feb. 2002 – June 2003, Student Pilot, Joint Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
5. July 2003 – Sept. 2003, Student Pilot, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody AFB, Ga.
6. Oct 2003 – July 2004, Student F-16 Pilot, 309th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
7. Aug. 2004 – May 2009, Director of Training, Chief of Weapons and Tactics and F-16 Instructor Pilot, 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, Syracuse, N.Y.
8. June 2010 – Sept. 2012, Chief of Standardizations and Evaluations, F-16 Instructor Pilot, 119th Fighter Squadron, Atlantic City, N.J.
9. Oct. 2012 – Jan. 2018, F-16 Forward Air Controller Airborne, Director of Operation, Commander, 177 Fighter Wing Detachment, Warren Grove, N.J.10. Feb. 2018 – Oct. 2020, Commander 119th Fighter Squadron, Atlantic City, N.J.
11. March 2019 – July 2019, Commander 466th Air Expeditionary Group, Homestead ARB, Fla.
12. Nov. 2020 – May 2021, Deputy Commander, 177th Operations Group, Atlantic City, N.J.
13. June 2021 – Sept. 2022, Division Chief, Standardizations and Evaluations, 1 AF/CONR, AFNORTH & AFSPACE, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
14. Oct 2022 – Sept. 2023, AFNORTH liaison to NAVNORTH and MARFORNORTH, NSA Norfolk, Va.
15. Sept 2023 – Nov 2024, Commander, 177th Operations Group, Atlantic City, N.J.
16. Nov 2024 – Present, Commander, 177th Fighter Wing, Atlantic City, N.J.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot, SEFE, IP, and FAC(A) and ATP
Flight Hours: More than 2,550
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38A/C, A320 and F-16B/C/D
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two devices Air Medal with one device
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award with one device
AF Outstanding Unit Award with three devices Combat Readiness Medal with two devices National Defense Service Medal with one device Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one device Iraq Campaign Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and one device NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION [MILITARY ONLY]
Second Lieutenant – February 22, 2002
First Lieutenant – February 22, 2004
Captain – February 22, 2006
Major – March 19, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel – January 05, 2016
Colonel – July 27, 2023
(Current as of March 2026)