Col. David R. Anderson is the commander of the 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. The 307th is Air Force Reserve Command’s sole bomb wing, operating both the B-52H Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer. Additionally, through Classic and Active Associations, the 307th BW provides combat-ready B-52H aircrew, maintenance personnel and combat support to execute nuclear and conventional global operational taskings. He is responsible for more than 2,000 Reserve Citizen-Airmen, civilian personnel and associated resources. Prior to his current position, Col. Anderson served as the commander of the 307th Operations Group, 307th BW.
Col. Anderson began his career in 1992 as an enlisted F-16 Avionics Technician for the Colorado Air National Guard. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 1996 and his commission through ROTC at the University of Colorado. He served on active duty for 11 years before joining the Air Force Reserve unit program in 2008 as a full-time Air Reserve Technician. He is an avid civilian aviator and command pilot with more than 3,700 hours in military fixed and rotary wing aircraft, including 227 combat sorties flown in support of Operations NOBLE EAGLE, IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology, Metropolitan State University, Denver, Colo.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2002 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2005 Air Combat Command Sword Look Program, Langley AFB, Va.
2006 Advanced Instrument School, Randolph AFB, Texas
2007 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2010 AFRC Leadership Today & Tomorrow, Washington, D.C.
2010 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2011 Reserve Component National Security Course, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C.
2011 Air War College, by correspondence
2012 Harvard School of Business, 21 Course Program via Defense Acquisition University, Va.
2016 Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2021 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2021 Global/Regional Course - Latin and South America, Alan L. Freed Associates
2021 Advanced Nuclear Concepts (NUC 300), Air Force Institute of Technology, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2021 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2021 Advanced Nuclear Command, Control & Communications (NC3 300), AF Institute of Tech, Barksdale AFB, La.
ASSIGNMENTS
- August 1997 - January 1998, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
- January 1998 – July 1998, Student, Rotary-Wing Pilot Training, Fort Rucker, Ala.
- July 1998 – February 2003, Chief of Plans & UH-1N Special Missions Instructor Pilot, 1st Helicopter Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md. (September 2001 – July 2002, special missions pilot during operation NOBLE EAGLE, Andrews AFB, Md.)
- February 2003 – June 2003, student, HH-60G Initial Qualification Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- June 2003 – June 2004, Operations Officer, Det 1, 33rd Rescue Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
- June 2004 – June 2007, Flight Commander & Training Officer, HH-60 Flight Lead, 41 RQS, Moody AFB Ga. (September 2004 – January 2005, August 2005 – November 2005, Rescue Aircraft Commander, Balad AB, Iraq; September 2006 – January 2007, Rescue Flight Lead, Kandahar AB, Afghanistan)
- June 2007 – December 2007, Flight Commander & Wing Life Support Officer, 347th OSS, Moody AFB, Ga.
- December 2007 – October 2010, Chief, Weapons & Tactics/HH-60 Instructor Pilot, 301 RQS, Patrick AFB, Fla. (September 2008 – February 2009, Rescue Instructor Pilot, Kandahar AB, Afghanistan)
- October 2010 – October 2012, Command HH-60 Functional Area Manager, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga. (September 2011 – December 2011, Rescue Instructor Pilot, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan)
- October 2012 – January 2014, Operations Officer, 301st Rescue Squadron, Patrick AFB, FL (January 2014 – June 2014, Commander, 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Republic of Djibouti)
- June 2014– July 2015, Commander, 301 RQS, Patrick AFB, Fla.
- January 2015 – July 2016, Student, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
- July 2016 – July 2018, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower & Reserve Affairs, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
- July 2018 – June 2020, Reserve Advisor/JACCE Program Director, HQ, 7th Air Force, Osan AB, South Korea
- June 2020 – May 2022, Commander, 307th Operations Group, Barksdale AFB, La.
- May 2022 – Present, Commander, 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
Jul 2016 – Jul 2018, Director, Reserve Integration (AFRC), Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Integration, Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,700
Aircraft flown: T-37, UH-1N, HH-60G, B-52H, B-1B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Joint Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant December 21, 1996
First Lieutenant December 21, 1998
Captain December 21, 2000
Major August 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 2011
Colonel July 1, 2016
(Current as of May 2022)