Colonel Paul J. Needham

Colonel Paul Needham is the 188th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group Commander at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Ark. The 188th ISRG is comprised of three intelligence squadrons and an intelligence support squadron, The 188th ISRG’s missions include near-real time processing, exploitation, analysis and dissemination of information and data from multiple sources. The unit creates decision-quality actionable intelligence that is disseminated to air, ground and naval force component commanders around the world for use in the planning and execution of military operations across the spectrum of conflict.  

Colonel Needham is a career ISR professional who has supported contingency operations worldwide. He entered the Arkansas Air National Guard (ANG) as an enlisted member in January 1994 after serving a two-year tour in the United States Army as an M1A1 Armor Crewman with A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He served in a variety of roles from a photographic interpretation analyst to a flight superintendent supporting target development, air operations center, and DCGS missions. Colonel Needham was commissioned in 2004 at the Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn. He led the conversion of the 123 Intelligence Squadrons from a target development mission to DCGS in 2005-2006 and then lead DCGS operations in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom from 2006 to 2013. As the operations officer he coordinated the development and acquisition of a first of its kind domestic emergency response trailer which provided incident, awareness and assessment to first responders in the event of natural disasters or domestic incidents. Later he would lead the conversion and movement of DGS-AR to the 188th Wing at Ebbing ANGB, Fort Smith, Ark. He stood up and commanded the 288th Operations Support Squadron from 2013-2017 establishing the operations support to DGS-AR. He then commanded the 153 IS transitioning it from a newly established unit to a full spectrum targeting squadron. He has been mobilized six times with three of those being deployed to other locations around the world. Colonel Needham was qualified in the SENTINEL weapon system for more than 15 years and accrued more than 4,500 hours of mission time both as an enlisted crew member and mission operations commander. Prior to his current position, the Colonel was the Inspector General, 188th Wing, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas. 

Colonel Needham’s education consists of an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Communication Applications Technology from the Community College of the Air Force (2001), a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management/Computer Information Systems from Park University (2002), and a Masters Degree in Operational Art and Military Science from Air University (2015). Additionally, he completed Air Force Squadron Officers School (2008), Air War College (2020), and the Reserve Component National Security Course (2023). 

Additionally, Colonel Needham’s major awards and decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters. His is a lifetime member of the following organizations: the National Guard of the United States, the National Guard Association of Arkansas, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Arkansas, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.