Alan Sims Colonel

Background

About Alan Sims Colonel

Alan is a sixth generation Georgian, born in Madison, Georgia to Dale and Beth Sims. Growing up in a working-class Georgia family, his parents modeled and instilled in him timeless Christian values and a tireless work ethic. His father was a veteran and a mechanic who built a business that continues to provide services and jobs for Georgians today. This foundation of conservative Georgia values prepared him for the many challenges ahead. After high school, Alan answered a call to service and accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. These four rigorous years taught and conditioned him for leadership in the armed services under President Ronald Reagan. As a commissioned Army officer, he served as a tank platoon leader in the 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and later as a helicopter pilot and executive officer. After five years of Army service, Alan accepted a commission in the United States Air Force. As a C-130 Hercules pilot, he conducted worldwide operations, including airlift, airdrop, medevac, drug interdiction and hurricane resupply missions. Later, he was selected to join the elite community of fighter pilots, and as Mission Support Commander, he organized the deployment of his A-10 Warthog unit to Afghanistan where he personally led 59 combat missions. His knowledge and skills extend beyond the cockpit. In 2006, he was assigned to Air Force Headquarters and deployed to Jerusalem, Israel as Deputy Operations Officer of the US Security Coordination Team. In this role, he spearheaded measures to increase security and normalize relations between Israel and its neighbors. His leadership helped lay the groundwork for successful fielding of Israel’s Iron Dome system, which has protected countless lives from Hamas rockets. Upon returning to the Pentagon, Alan served as Director of Middle East Policy to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and later as the Director of Air Force Energy Policy before retiring at the rank of Colonel with 34 years of combined military service. Today, Alan is an international commercial pilot for Delta Air Lines of Atlanta, Georgia. Combined, he has accumulated more than 9,200 flight hours in both military and commercial aviation. He has completed graduate studies at the Air Command and Staff College, the Air War College, holds a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Divinity from Liberty University. He is an ordained minister. Alan and his wife Vanessa live in Winder, Georgia, and attend Bethlehem Church.