COLONEL STEPHEN L. SU’A-FILO
Colonel Su’a-Filo is now the 154th Operations Group Commander.
Prior to being promoted to Colonel and his new command position, Su’a-Filo held the 154th Deputy Operations Group Commander position where he advised and assisted the 154th Operations Group Commander on operations and training programs, policies for three flying squadrons, a radar control squadron, and a support squadron. He also monitored all flying training, weapons control, standardization, safety, flying hour management, manpower, finances and air defense alert programs.
Su’a-Filo recently served as the 204th Airlift Squadron (AS) Commander from 2007 to 2009, leading them through the first ever combined C-17 Guard/Active Duty “Operational Readiness Inspection” in February of 2009, achieving the grade of “Excellent.”
Colonel Su’a-Filo is an Evaluator Pilot in the C-17A and a Command Pilot with over 7,240 total flying hours including Combat Support Sorties. He has flown the T-37, T-38, KC-135A, Q, R, T, EC-135J, KC-10, and the F-15 fighter aircraft. He has performed frequent visits to flying and ground-controlled interception units and provided policy direction and guidance to unit commanders. He worked and continues to work closely with the 15th Air Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) Headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Colonel has served on numerous real world deployments to Turkey, Italy, Iceland, Russia, France, Croatia, Australia, Guam, India and participated in numerous training deployments in Thailand, Philippines, Australia, England, Japan, South Korea, Alaska, and Germany.
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Colonel Su’a-Filo is the son of Paul Fogalepolo Su’a-Filo of Upolu and Dorothy Coverdale Su’a-Filo of Hull, England.
Su’a-Filo graduated from Kahuku High School in 1976. He then served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and afterwards attended and graduated from the University of Hawaii and received his commission through the ROTC program in 1984.
He is married to Francine “Cookie” Mililani Hong and are proud parents of seven children.
COLONEL STANLEY ULUALOFAIGA SNOW, JR.
Colonel Snow has held several leadership positions throughout his career, most recently as Full-Time Supervisor of the 109th Air Operations Group (AOG) of the Hawaii Air National Guard. There he served as Chief of the Combat Operations Division unit to augment the 613th Air and Space Operations Center, Pacific Command.
Snow was responsible for offensive and defensive combat operations throughout the entire Pacific area theater of operations.
He served a two-year mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Washington, D.C. where he knew Faleomavaega and his family during his work with the Insular Affairs Office.
After completing his mission, Snow graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in 1983 where received his commission as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force ROTC; he also was student brigade Commander of the BYU Air Force ROTC program.
Colonel Snow began his career in Alaska as an A-10 pilot before becoming a fighter instructor at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. He then earned a Master of Aeronautical Science in Aerospace Operations and Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1998.
The Colonel is currently a Command Fighter Pilot with more than 3,100 total military flight hours. He has flown the F-15, AT-38B, A-10 and C-130 aircraft. His extensive experience includes time as military flight instructor and in combat service over Iraq.
His prior service in the Hawaii Air National Guard includes positions as Chief of the 154th Wing Control Center where he commanded post operations of the four squadron composite wing. Snow served as Commander of the F-15 Alert Program and as point of contact to PACAF Air Defense Commander for all fighter operations issues regarding the Hawaiian Air Defense mission.
Since 1992, Colonel Snow has also worked as an International and Domestic Airline Pilot for United Airlines. He has flown over 6,200 hours as a qualified B-747 and B-777 pilot and currently works as Airline Captain of the A-320 Airbus based in San Francisco.
Additionally, Colonel Snow is an Upper-Division Adjunct Instructor for the Aviation Department of Utah Valley University’s Provo Airport Campus, teaching the Global Navigation/International Flight Operations on-line course.
He is the son of Stanley Snow Sr. of Fagatogo and Taavale Tulimalefo’i Asuega Ainuu of Pago Pago. Colonel Snow is married to Yolanthy Leinalani Tagiafoga “Lani” Kanahele, and are proud parents of four children.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate both Colonel Su’a-Filo and Colonel Snow for their promotion to this much esteemed rank,” Faleomavaega said.
“Seeing the achievements of these two sons of Samoa as they rise in rank in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard is an inspiration to our people and sets a standard of excellence for all who serve and will serve our country in the future.
They have continued to further their military careers by taking on leadership roles that require the highest levels of skill, dedication and responsibility. Surely their extensive experience will prepare them for their new assignments. More importantly, their character will enable them to serve with dignity throughout our Pacific community and the world. I know that both Colonel Su’a-Filo and Colonel Snow will serve us well.”
“I would also like to express my appreciation to both Colonel Su’a-Filo and Colonel Snow for their assistance during the recent tsunami relief mission to American Samoa.
Colonel Su’a-Filo served as the pilot on several flights out of Honolulu, including my flight to American Samoa, shortly after the tsunami. Colonel Snow also played a vital role in coordinating Hickam AFB operations as the Air National Guard Liaison to the 15th Air Wing Command Center and PACAF Air Mobility Division. He also maintained direct contact with the Deputy Director of Airport Operations throughout the relief mission. I thank both of these self-sacrificing leaders in their service to our people.”
“I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate both the Su’a-Filo and Snow families and wish them the very best as they continue to be the support system behind these two highly accomplished officers of the Air Force,” Faleomavaega concluded.
(Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin)
This Samoan could fly one of those RAAF FA18 Superhornets, in Amberley Airforce base, South West of Brisbane, for the 82nd wing, 1st and 6th sqd. So who said Samoans can't reach for the skies? We havent had a Samoan landing on the moon yet!
Tofa Soifua
Tim Tufuga
Brisbane
ps. Congressman Faleomavaega is a distant relative of mine, on my late mother's side. He is a Tuiletufuga, and, is, therefore, a kin of mine from my Apia family side, which means we are family.
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