Lt. Col. Natassia Cherne is the Commander of the 361st Recruiting Squadron, headquartered at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. She leads 82 personnel responsible for recruiting future Airmen and Guardians to serve in more than 140 Air Force and Space Force specialties. Her area of responsibility includes 40 geographically separated offices throughout Alaska, Oregon, and Washington covering 728,000 square miles.
Lt. Col. Cherne was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program in 2008 from East Carolina University. In her first assignment, she served as a Public Affairs Officer and Deputy Director of Public Affairs, 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Lt. Col. Cherne served as the 18th Wing Deputy Chief of Public Affairs, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. She served as a Flight Commander and the Assistant Director of Operations for 1st Combat Camera Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Lt. Col. Cherne was the Chief of Public Affairs, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, N.D, where she provided public relations support, advice and crisis management to the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing, the only base in the Department of Defense which provides two-thirds of the nuclear triad strategic capabilities. Prior to her current position, she was the Deputy Commander of the Air Force Public Affairs Agency, which provides global Combat Camera and video production capabilities and specialized program management for the public affairs career field.
Lt. Col. Cherne has had multiple deployments. She has deployed to Nuristan, Afghanistan serving on a U.S. Navy Provincial Reconstruction Team. Lt. Col Cherne deployed to the Combined Air and Space Operations Center as a Media Relations officer where she provided communication support and guidance to public affairs offices across 11 countries. Lastly, she deployed to Tampa, Florida, to work for United States Central Command, as the Combat Camera planner for the Information Operations division.
EDUCATION
2008 Bachelor of Science in Communication Media Studies, East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.
2008 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Master of Science in Mass Media Arts and Public Relations, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pa.
2012 Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2008 – May 2011, Public Affairs Officer and Deputy Director of Public Affairs, 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, Texas (July 2009 – March 2010, Public Affairs Officer, Provincial Reconstruction Team, Combined Joint Task Force East, Nuristan Afghanistan)
- May 2011 – July 2014, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan (March 2013 – October 2013, Media Relations Officer, Combined Air and Space Operations Center, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Al Udied, Qatar)
- July 2014 – June 2018, Flight Commander and Assistant Director of Operations, 1st Combat Camera Squadron, JB Charleston, S.C. (April 2017 – October 2017, Media Relations Officer, J39 Information Operations, U.S. Central Command, Tampa, Fla.)
- June 2018 – June 2021, Chief of Public Affairs, 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs, Minot Air Force Base, Minot, N.D.
- June 2021 – May 2024, Deputy Commander, Air Force Public Affairs Agency, JB San Antonio, Randolph, TX
6. June 2024 - Present, Commander, 361st Recruiting Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force and Space Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with oak leaf cluster
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2008
First Lieutenant May 28, 2010
Captain May 28, 2012
Major December 1, 2017
Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 2023
(Current as of July 2024)