Colonel Justin W. Boldenow is Commander, 7th Operations Group, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. In this position, he commands Air Combat Command's largest bomb group, a team of more than 450 Airmen, and an annual budget of $1.7M. He is primarily responsible for organizing, training, and equipping his group to conduct combat operations, B-1 Formal Training, airfield operations, air traffic control, aircrew flight equipment, operations weather support, combat intelligence and facilitating aircrew and operations support personnel training from across the air force in academic courses and via the creation of instructional multi-media productions.
Colonel Boldenow received his commission in 1993 as a distinguished graduate of the South Dakota State University Reserve Officer Training Corps. He has served as a communications engineer; B-1B instructor and evaluator Weapon System Officer (WSO); and operations support squadron director of operations. Colonel Boldenow commanded the 479th Operations Support Squadron providing academic, simulator and aviation support to the USAF's only combat system officer training program. Prior to assuming his current position, he was Chief, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Policy Division, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5) of the Joint Staff, Washington, DC.
Colonel Boldenow is a Master Navigator with more than 2,600 hours in the T-43, T-37, T-39, B-1 and T-1 aircraft, including more than 125 B-1 combat hours in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2007 Master's degree in military arts & sciences, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2007 Joint Professional Military Education Phase II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
2009 Air War College, by correspondence
2014 Senior Course 123, NATO Defense College, Rome, Italy
2014 NATO Regional Cooperation Course, NATO Defense College, Rome, Italy
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1993 - January 1995, communications engineer, Communications Systems Program Office, Scott AFB, Illinois
2. January 1995 - August 1995, undergraduate navigator student, 558th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. August 1995 - March 1996, undergraduate navigator student, Training Squadron 10 & Training Squadron 86, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
4. March 1996 - June 1996, electronic warfare officer student, Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida
5. July 1996 - February 1997, student WSO, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
6. February 1997 - July 2001, instructor & evaluator WSO, 37th Bomb Squadron Ellsworth AFB, SD
7. July 2001 - March 2004, flight commander & chief of flight operations, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
8. March 2004 - May 2005, executive officer, 7th Operations Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
9. May 2005 - July 2006, assistant director of operations, 7th Operations Support Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
10. July 2006 - June 2007, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
11. June 2007 - July 2009, Afghanistan and US Central Command liaison officer, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, Dahlgren, Virginia
12. July 2009 - January 2011, Director of Operations, 7th Operations Support Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
13. February 2011 - January 2013, Commander, 479th Operations Support Squadron, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
14. January 2013 - July 2013, special assistant to the commander, 479th Flying Training Group, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
15. July 2013 - July 2014, Senior Developmental Education Student, NATO Defense College, Rome, Italy
16. July 2014 - July 2015, Deputy Chief then Chief, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Policy Division, Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Washington, DC
17. June 2015 - present, Commander, 7th Operations Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2007 - July 2009, Afghanistan and US Central Command Liaison Officer, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, Dahlgren, Virginia, as a major and lieutenant colonel
2. July 2014 -June 2015, Deputy Chief then Chief, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Policy Division, Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Washington, DC, as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: more than 2,600
Aircraft flown: T-43, T-37, T-39, B-1 and T-1 aircraft
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
National Aeronautic Association World Record Holder - Time to Climb to 9,000 Meters with 5,000 kg Payload
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 11, 1993
First Lieutenant July 11, 1995
Captain July 11, 1997
Major November 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2008
Colonel February 1, 2015
(Current as of June 2015)