Col. Seth W. Spanier is the commander of the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. As commander, he is responsible for the health and welfare of service members, civilian employees, and family members. In addition, he provides combat ready aircraft, aircrew, and associated combat support for global taskings.
Col. Spanier received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 2002. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, in 2004 prior to attending the B-1B Formal Training Unit (FTU) at Dyess AFB, Texas. Following the FTU, he served as a mobility officer, squadron tactics officer, and flight commander for the 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. Upon completion of the USAF Weapons School in 2009, he was reassigned to Ellsworth where he served as chief of squadron weapons and tactics at the 37th BS. Col. Spanier was an instructor and assistant director of operations at the 77th Weapons Squadron, B-1 Weapons School at Dyess from 2011 through 2013.
Col. Spanier graduated from National Intelligence University at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., prior to completing a staff assignment at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) where he was assigned as the Chief of Bomber Operations and Deputy Chief, Operations Force Management Branch, in the PACAF A3/6 (Operations) Directorate. Following his staff assignment, he commanded the 34th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth, one of three operational B-1 squadrons. Following his term as squadron commander, Col. Spanier served as the 28th Operations Group deputy commander prior to attending the U.S. Air Force Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, where he graduated with Highest Academic Distinction and was awarded the Maj. Gen. Carpenter Award for outstanding research in the field of strategic deterrence and future bomber operations. Following Air War College, he completed a joint assignment at Headquarters United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, where he served as a Current Operations Branch Chief focused on Bomber Task Force operations, Missile Defense, and Nuclear Command and Control. Next, Col. Spanier served as the Senior Executive Officer for the United States Strategic Command Director of Global Operations (J3) and as the Chief of the Strategy Division in the 612th Air Operations Center. Prior to his current positions, Col. Spanier served as the Vice Commander of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science Degree in Management, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2009 U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV. (Distinguished Graduate)
2011 Masters in Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, FL.
2014 Masters in Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, JBAB, Washington, D.C.
2019 Masters in Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
ASSIGNMENTS
August 2002 - March 2004, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, MS.
March 2004 - November 2004, Student, B-1 Formal Training Unit, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX.
November 2004 - December 2007, B-1 Pilot, Mobility Officer, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD.
December 2007 - July 2008, B-1 Aircraft Commander, Squadron Tactics Officer, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD.
July 2008 - October 2008, B-1 Aircraft Commander, Flight Commander, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD.
October 2008 - December 2009, B-1 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD.
December 2009 - September 2011, Chief Weapons and Tactics, B-1 Instructor Pilot, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD.
September 2011 - April 2013, Flight Commander, Weapons School Instructor, 77th Weapons Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX.
April 2013 - August 2013, Assistant Director of Ops, Weapons School Instructor, 77th Weapons Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX.
August 2013 - August 2014, Student, National Intelligence University, Joint Base Anacostia- Bolling, Washington, D.C.
August 2014 - June 2015, Chief of Bomber Operations, PACAF A3/6, Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam, HI.
July 2015 - May 2016, Deputy Chief, Operations Force Management Branch, PACAF A3/6, JBPH-H, HI.
June 2016 - February 2018, Commander, 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD.
February 2018 - July 2018, Deputy Commander, 28th Operations Group, Ellsworth AFB, SD.
July 2018 - June 2019, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
July 2019 - June 2020, Current Operations Branch Chief (J333), Headquarters U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE.
June 2020 - May 2021, Senior Executive Officer to Director of Global Ops, HQ USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, NE.
May 2021 - May 2022, Chief, Strategy Division, 612 Air Operations Center (Air Forces Southern), Davis- Monthan AFB, AZ.
June 2022 – July 2023, Vice Commander, 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, SD.
July 2023 – Present, Commander, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, TX.
April 2024 – Present, Commander, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
July 2019 – May 2021, Current Operations Branch Chief (J333) and Senior Executive Officer to Director of Global Operations, HQ USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a Lt. Col.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: 2,900
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, and B-1B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2007 General Curtis E. LeMay Air Combat Crew Award
2009 Distinguished Graduate and Academic Award, USAF Weapon School Class 09B
2019 Maj. Gen. Carpenter Award for outstanding research in the field of strategic deterrence & future bomber operations
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
Major April 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel January 1, 2016
Colonel June 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2024)