Colonel Denis Heinz is the commander of the 489th Bomb Group, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. As commander, he directs the activities of the 345th Bomb Squadron, 489th Maintenance Squadron and the 489th Medical Flight.

Colonel Heinz received his commission in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program in 1989. Upon graduation from Texas A&M University, he entered active duty service in January 1990, serving nine years, until joining the Air Force Reserve in 1999. He has served in a variety of operational positions including navigator, standardization and evaluation instructor navigator, radar navigator, instructor radar navigator and AGM-142 Program Manager.  Prior to his current assignment, he served as the 307th Bomb Wing Inspector General of Inspections.

EDUCATION:

1989 Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

1996 Masters of Business Administration, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston

1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2006 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence

2011 U.S. Air Force Accident/Safety Board President Course, Barksdale AFB, La.

2013 Air War College, by correspondence

2014 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.

2015 Combat Systems Officer Electronic Warfare Training, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. January 1990 – October 1990, Student, specialized undergraduate navigator training, Mather AFB, Calif.

2. November 1990 – September 1991, Student, B-52 Combat Crew Training School, Castle AFB, Calif.

3. October 1991 – December 1992, Navigator, 62nd Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

4. January 1993 – August 1996, Evaluator, 20th Bomb Squadron Standardization and Evaluation and Navigator, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

5. September 1996 – June 1997, Assistant Flight Commander, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

6. July 1997 – March 1999, AGM-142 Program Manager, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

7. June 1999 – April 2003, Instructor Radar Navigator, Weapons and Tactics Flight, 93rd Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

8. May 2003 – October 2010, Evaluator and Radar Navigator, 917th Standardization and Evaluation, Barksdale AFB, La.

9. November 2010 – May 2011, Assistant Director of Operations, 93rd Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

10. June 2011 – August 2013, Commander, 343rd Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

11. August 2013 – May 2015, Inspector General of Inspections, 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.

12. May 2015 – present, Commander, 489th Bomb Group, Dyess AFB, Texas

     

    FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating:  Command Navigator

Flight hours:  More than 5,200

Combat hours:  491.5

Aircraft flown:  B-52 G/H

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Aerial Achievement Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air Force Achievement Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant Oct. 23, 1989

First Lieutenant Oct. 23, 1991

Captain Oct. 23, 1993

Major Oct. 1, 2001

Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 1, 2008

Colonel Jun. 1, 2015

(Current as of June 2015)