Colonel ROBERT W. STURGILL JR

Col. Robert W. "Ripper" Sturgill Jr. is the Commander, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. As commander of the Air Force’s largest B-1 wing, he is responsible for providing mission-ready B-1 aircraft, aircrew, combat support, and Airmen for global taskings.

The colonel entered the Air Force in December 2001, earning his commission through the Air Force ROTC program at Brigham Young University. After completing Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, he flew the F-16 before transitioning to the B-2 program. As a B-2 pilot, he served as an instructor, U.S. Air Force Weapons School instructor, and commanded at the squadron and group levels. Throughout his career, he led Low Observable-Navy integration with B-2, F-22, F-35, and Carrier Strike Group assets during deployments and Joint Task Force Exercises in the Pacific. Furthermore, he led B-2 combat mission planning, intelligence, and flying in Operations Poseidon Archer, Rough Rider, Midnight Hammer, and Epic Fury.

Col. Sturgill's staff experience includes serving the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a Presidential Strike Advisor and Assistant Deputy Director for Operations in the National Military Command Center on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Commander, 509th Operations Group, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.

1. January 2002–September 2002, Officer in Charge, Student Training Flight, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 2002–October 2003, Student Pilot, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training & Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. November 2003–October 2004, Student Pilot, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. November 2004–May 2006, Assistant Scheduling Officer & F-16 Pilot, 18th Fighter Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
5. June 2006–December 2006, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 394th Combat Training Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
6. January 2007–March 2007, Executive Officer, 509th Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
7. April 2007–October 2007, Student, B-2 IQT, 394th CTS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
8. November 2007–December 2010, Flight Commander, 393rd Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
9. January 2011–June 2011, Student Pilot, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, 325th Weapons Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
10. July 2011–December 2011, Chief of Weapons & Tactics, 393rd BS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
11. January 2012–December 2012, Assistant Director of Operations, 325th WPS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
12. January 2012–October 2014, Director of Operations, 325th WPS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
13. November 2014–June 2015, Director of Inspections, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
14. July 2015–June 2016, Student, U.S. Marine Corps Command & Staff College, Marine Corps University, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
15. July 2016–June 2019, Presidential Strike Advisor & Assistant Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center, Operations Directorate (J-3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. July 2019–May 2021, Inspector General, 509th BW, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
17. May 2021–May 2023, Commander, 13th BS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
18. May 2023–June 2024, Student, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
19. June 2024–June 2026, Commander, 509th OG, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
20. June 2026–Present, Commander, 7th BW, Dyess AFB, Texas

1. July 2016 – June 2019, Presidential Strike Advisor and Assistant Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center, Operations Directorate (J-3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jan. 18, 2002
First Lieutenant Jan. 18, 2004
Captain Jan. 18, 2006
Major Jan. 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 2017
Colonel July 1, 2023

(Current as of June 2026)