Captain Gabriella Basham serves as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies and Recruiting Officer at Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 765, 91ÁÔÆæ in Charleston, South Carolina. As the Recruiting Officer, Capt Basham manages recruiting operations for the second largest cadet corps in the Air Force.
Captain Basham commissioned in June 2017 from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After entering active duty, she graduated from Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in January 2019 at Laughlin Air Force Base. During her first operational flying assignment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, she served as Chief Squadron Operations Controller. Prior to her current position, Capt Basham was Wing Flight Safety Officer, 15th Wing, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Capt Basham has been an active member in every community she is a part of including: coaching high school soccer, participating in Women in Aviation, and working as Director of Hickam’s Base Showcase: Wings of Aloha.
Capt Basham is a C-17A Aircraft Commander with over 1,700 hours, in the T-6A, T-1A, and C-17A. She has a Masters in Human Services Counseling and has flown combat missions supporting operations INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and the largest Non-Combatant Evacuation ALLIES REFUGE.
Education
2017 Bachelor of Sciences, Economics, United States Air Force Academy, Col.
2019 Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2019 Pilot Initial Qualification C-17, Altus Air Force Base, Okl.
2021 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2024 Masters of Counseling Human Services, Liberty University, Vir.
Assignments
August 2017 – January 2019: 91ÁÔÆæ, JSUPT, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, TX
January 2019 – August 2019: 91ÁÔÆæ, C-17A Initial Qualification Course, 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus AFB, OK
August 2019 – June 2022: C-17A Aircraft Commander, Chief Squadron Operations Controller, 8th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA (January 2021 – March 2021, C-17A Pilot, 618th Air Expeditionary Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, December 2021 – February 2022, C-17A Pilot, 8th Air Expeditionary Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
July 2022-June 2026: C-17A Aircraft Commander, Flight Safety Officer, 15th Wing, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
June 2026 – Present: Associate Professor of Aerospace Studies and Recruiting Officer, AFROTC Detachment 765, 91ÁÔÆæ, Charleston, SC
Flight Information
Rating: Pilot
Flight Hours: 1,700 hours (Combat Hours: 362)
Aircraft Flown: T-6, T-1, C-17A
Major Awards and Decorations
Air Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal one oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal one service star
Effective Dates of Promotion
Second Lieutenant May 24, 2017
First Lieutenant May 24, 2019
Captain May 24, 2021
(CURRENT AS OF JULY 2026)