ANG Mishap Prevention Services

SMSgt (Ret.) Cas Caruso serves as an Occupational Safety Subject Matter Expert for ANG/SE, where he supports all ANG occupational investigations and provides daily guidance to wing-level safety personnel. His support spans mishap investigation assistance, corrective action and recommendation management, AFSAS oversight, and overall Occupational Safety program execution.
Prior to joining ANG/SE, Cas served 20 years on active duty as an Occupational Safety professional, with assignments at eight installations and multiple deployed locations. He served in roles at the wing/installation level, the Combat Air Operations Center, Fifteenth Air Force, and Pacific Air Forces Command, where he served as the Occupational Safety Superintendent until his retirement from the Air Force in 2026. Cas also served in the Safety Academy at JBSA-Lackland for four years as a Technical Training Instructor and Training Supervisor. He oversaw the development of Occupational Safety courses and instructed for over 2500 hours in both Aviation and Occupational Safety courses. He joined Creek Technologies in June 2026.

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jerry Hickey concluded a 22-year Air Force career as Deputy Division Chief of the Flight Safety Division at Headquarters, Air Combat Command (ACC). In that senior leadership position, he supported over 30 Class A mishap Safety Investigation Boards (SIBs). Additionally, he actively managed all major Flight Safety programs and performed Safety Program Evaluations (SPEs) on each of the 35 active-duty ACC wings. While at ACC, he led the Flight Safety team in earning the 2018 Maj. Gen. Foulois Award, recognizing the top Flight Safety program of all Major Commands.
After retiring from the Air Force in 2019, Jerry worked as a Flight Safety Auditor for six years, conducting SPEs within the 90 wings of the Air National Guard (ANG). In early 2026, Jerry changed roles to support the ANG as an Aviation Safety Advisor. In this role, he assists Chiefs of Safety, Flight Safety Officers, and Flight Safety NCOs with investigations, program execution, and policy implementation. He provides direct support to ANG Class B SIBs and delivers daily guidance to wing-level safety personnel in mishap investigation, corrective action management, and AFSAS execution.
Jerry has over 3,500 mishap-free hours in the C-130E and C-130H and held various safety roles at the squadron-level, both at home-station and while deployed. He is a graduate of the Aviation Safety Program Management Course, Aviation Mishap Investigation Course, Safety Investigation & Accident Investigation Board Presidents’ Course, and the Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) Deployed Squadron Flight Safety Officer Course.

Jeff Thomas served as a Wing Flight Safety Officer in both Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and Air Mobility Command (AMC) before being selected as Chief of Flight Safety for Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). In these roles, he provided senior-level oversight and leadership for aviation safety programs across multiple wings and major commands, ensuring the effective implementation of Air Force safety policy and mishap prevention initiatives.
He later served at Headquarters Air Force Safety Center as Aviation Investigations Team Chief, where he led and coordinated high-visibility aircraft mishap investigations and supported field safety organizations worldwide. Throughout his career, he was a board member on more than 30 Class A flight mishap investigations for the United States Air Force and several international partner air forces, contributing extensive expertise in investigative methodology, analysis, and report development.
Jeff was a distinguished instructor in multiple advanced safety courses, including the Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course (AMIC), the Board Presidents Course (BPC), and the International Flight Safety Officer Course (IFSO). In these capacities, he trained and mentored Flight Safety Officers, senior leaders, and international partners in investigative techniques, safety program management, and accident prevention strategies.
In recognition of his sustained contributions to aviation safety and mishap prevention, he was inducted into the Air Force Safety Hall of Fame in 2007.

Jen is a KC-135 pilot and Squadron Assigned Flight Safety Officer with the 127th Wing at Selfridge ANGB, Michigan, where she currently serves as a drill status guardsman. She previously served as the wing Flight Safety Officer and has been a board member on a Class A Safety Investigation Board. Prior to commissioning, she served as an F-16 egress mechanic with the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio, bringing both maintenance and operational perspectives to aviation safety.
Since 2022, Jen has supported ANG/SE as an Aviation Safety Advisor, teaching multiple sections of the Air Reserve Component Safety Course each year. In this role, she provides direct support to ANG Class B Safety Investigation Boards and delivers daily guidance to wing-level safety personnel in mishap investigation, corrective action management, and AFSAS execution.