Lt. Col. Amalia McCaffrey is the Commander of the 253rd Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group, Massachusetts Air National Guard, Otis Air National Guard Base. Lt. Col. McCaffrey’s duties and responsibilities include ensuring the eight Engineering Installation Squadrons assigned to the Group are prepared to provide expeditionary cyberspace telecommunications infrastructure; cable and antenna; radar, airfield and weather systems to combat forces around the globe.
In addition to her squadron command tour at the 282d Combat Communications Squadron, Lt. Col. McCaffrey has held multiple headquarters staff assignments managing both fixed and tactical communication systems supporting combat missions worldwide. She has served in positions supporting Expeditionary Communication and Information systems and military satellite communications capabilities for the Air Force. Additionally, she managed the posturing of over 200-unit type codes and 13,000 personnel for combat operations. She has served as a Program Element Manager managing $60M in operations and maintenance funds directly supporting missions. Additionally, she has served as a network analyst and test evaluator for the $18.6 billion Transformational Satellite Communication System.
Early in her career, as the Officer in Charge of 110-person Network Control Center, she supported 9,700 base network users. As Executive Officer, she managed the daily administrative operations of a 615-person group and later in her career a 1260-person Wing. Lt. Col. McCaffrey has extensive experience in project, budget, and contract management at both the squadron, wing, and headquarters levels.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Arts Degree, Political Science, California State University, Sacramento, California
1998 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2001 Basic Communications Officer Training, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
2002 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2009 Advanced Communications Officer Training, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
2009 Master of Arts, Political Science, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado
2010 Cyberspace Operations Transition Course, Langley AFB, Virginia
2015 Air Command & Staff College Distance Learning, Otis ANGB, Massachusetts
2016 Advanced Cyberspace Operations Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2022 Air War College Distance Learning, Otis ANGB, Massachusetts
ASSIGNMENTS
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May 1999 – May 2001, Network Security Technician, 16th Communications Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
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June 2001 – June 2002, Project Manager, 89th Communications Squadron, Andrews AFB, Maryland
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June 2002 – June 2003, Executive Officer, 89th Communications Group, Andrews AFB, Maryland
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June 2003 – June 2004, OIC, Network Control Center, 89th Communications Squadron, Andrews AFB, Maryland
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June 2004 – June 2005 – Network Analyst, Military Satellite Communications, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 4, Peterson AFB, Colorado
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June 2005 – April 2006 – Transformational Satellite Communications System Evaluator, Air Force Operational Test Evaluation Center, Detachment 4, Peterson AFB, Colorado
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April 2006 – June 2006 – Deputy Chief, Policy, Compliance and Communications Security Branch, Integration and Information Assurance Division, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado
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June 2006 – June 2008, Commander, Readiness Flight, 21st Space Communications Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colorado
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June 2008 – September 2010 – Team Chief, Deployable Communications Systems, Operations Division, Directorate of Communications, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
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September 2010 – Apr 2011, Staff Officer, Infrastructure, Operations Division, Directorate of Communications, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
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April 2011 – November 2014 – Officer in Charge, Operations, 253d Cyberspace Engineering and Installation Group, 102d Intelligence Wing, Otis ANGB, Massachusetts
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December 2014 – December 2018 – Commander, 282d Combat Communications Squadron, North Smithfield, Rhode Island
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January 2019 – May 2020 – Deputy Commander, 143d Maintenance Group, Quonset ANGB, Rhode Island
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June 2020 – July 2022 – Deputy Commander, 253rd Cyberspace Engineering and Installation Group, Otis ANGB, Massachusetts
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August 2022 – Mar 2024 – Inspector General, 102d Intelligence Wing, Otis ANGB, Massachusetts
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April 2024 – August 2025 – Executive Officer, 102d Intelligence Wing, Otis ANGB, Massachusetts
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August 2025 – Present – Commander, 253rd Cyberspace Engineering and Installation Group, Otis ANGB, Massachusetts
DEPLOYMENTS
Jan 2007 – May 2007, Commander, Information Systems Flight, 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait
Feb 2010 – Aug 2010, Joint Staff Officer, Plans and Programs Division, United States Forces Iraq Directorate of Communications, Camp Victory Base, Baghdad, Iraq
Jan 2018 – Jul 2018, Division Chief, Operations, J6, CJTF-HOA, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Air Force Command and Control, Communications and Computer Association Award, Andrews AFB, Maryland
2003 89th Communications Group, Company Grade Officer of the Year, Andrews AFB, Maryland
2005 Lance P. Sijan Award, Detachment 4, AFOTEC, Peterson AFB, Colorado
2007 21st Maintenance Group, Company Grade Officer of the Year, Peterson AFB, Colorado
2009 Lance P. Sijan Award, HQ Air Combat Command, Directorate of Communications, Langley AFB, Virginia
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 24, 2001
First Lieutenant May 24, 2003
Captain May 24, 2005
Major January 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel May 5, 2016
(Current as of August 2025)