Mark Stanley

Mark P. Stanley is the acting Command Historian for Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. He is responsible for establishing policy and overseeing the command's history, museums, and art programs consisting of 27 history offices, 18 air parks, one field museum and also is responsible for leading the team writing the command’s annual history.

Mr. Stanley entered the Air Force in October 1984 and completed basic training in November. During much of his first enlistment, he served as an Aircrew Life Support Specialist, retraining in 1989 into the field of history. Since then, he has served in several capacities supporting the Air Force History and Museums Program.

During his active duty career, Mr. Stanley deployed on four separate occasions in support of various operations. First, to Thumrait AB, Oman during Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM, 1990-1991.  In 1997, to Joint Task

Force Southwest Asia, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. In 2003, to the alternate (later, primary) Air Operations Center in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and later, IRAQI FREEDOM.

Finally, in 2004, he deployed to various locations including Afghanistan and Uzbekistan conducting oral history interviews with deployed service members.

After retiring from active duty in May 2005, Mr. Stanley began his civilian career as Director of the USAF Historian Development School at the Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development (later, Chief, Field Support Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency), Maxwell AFB, AL. He then completed a Career Broadening assignment at the Pentagon within the Air Force History and Museums Program Office. Prior to assuming his present duties, Mr. Stanley served as the ACC Historian Functional Area Manager from May 2012 to August 2019.

1. March 1985 – March 1988, Aircrew Life Support Specialist, 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Zweibrücken AB, Germany.
2. April 1988 – April 1989, Aircrew Life Support Specialist, 60th Military Airlift Wing, Travis AFB, CA.
3. April 1989 – November 1991, Historian, HQ Airlift Communications Division, Scott AFB, IL.
4. December 1991 – September 1995, Wing Historian, 416th Bomb Wing, Griffiss AFB, NY.
5. October 1995 – May 1998, Deputy Historian, Rome Laboratory (later Air Force Research Laboratory), Rome Research Site (formerly Griffiss AFB), NY.
6. May 1998 – Feb 2003, Technical Training Instructor, USAF Historian Development School, Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development, Maxwell AFB, AL

7. February 2003 – April 2005, Deputy Historian, Ninth Air Force (United States Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT), Shaw AFB, SC.
8. May 2005 – September 2008, Director, USAF Historian Development School, Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL.
9. October 2008 – September 2010, Director, Field Support Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL.
10. September 2010 – May 2012, Career Broadener Historian, Air Force History and Museums Program, Pentagon, Washington, DC.
11. May 2012 – August 2019, Historian Functional Area Manager, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA.
12. August 2019 – Present, Deputy Command Historian, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA.

(CURRENT AS OF JANUARY 2026)