Colonel Sonny Baxter

Sonny Baxter currently serves as Commander of the 189th Maintenance Group at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. He leads over 260 maintainers and is responsible for the overall maintenance of up to 17 C-130H/J/AMP aircraft, supporting the Wing’s Formal Training Unit and Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center missions. Sonny also advises senior leaders on maintenance operations, strategic planning, and resource allocation to meet state and national objectives.

Sonny began his Air Force career in January 1998 as an enlisted Air Transportation Journeyman and Aircraft Loadmaster. He received his commission through the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson AFB and attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB and NAS Corpus Christi. Over the course of his career, Sonny has served in multiple roles, including C-130J Copilot, Aircraft Commander, Tactics Officer, Instructor Pilot, Evaluator Pilot, Maintenance Operations Officer, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander and Deputy Group Commander. Before his current assignment, Sonny was hand-selected to stand up the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center’s C-130 Combined Test Force Detachment. This specialized unit plays a vital role in modernizing the C-130 fleet and closing critical capability gaps by working with industry partners to test and evaluate new technologies and modifications, ensuring the aircraft remain effective and relevant in modern military operations.

Sonny has amassed over 4,000 flight hours, including 497 combat hours and over 300 combat missions in three Areas of Responsibility. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace and Aviation Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is a graduate of Air War College. Sonny is a Command Pilot qualified on the T-6, T-44, C-130J, C-130H2/H2.5/H3, and C-130AMP aircraft.

Sonny and his wife, Jessica, have four sons: Lane, Cole, Cash, and Cam. They reside in Maumelle, Arkansas.