Col. David Martinez is the Deputy Commander of the 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. As deputy commander, he shares responsibility for ensuring the Bomb Wing maintains a state of constant readiness to provide flexible and responsive combat capability on a global scale in concert with other forces and provide B-52 combat pilot training to include senior officer transition training.
Col. Martinez earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a commission through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1999. He spent over ten years on active duty before transitioning to the Air Force Reserve Command. He later earned a Masters in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is a command pilot with more than 3,700 flying hours, including 2,600 combat and combat support hours in the B-52 Stratofortress, B-1 Lancer, and MQ-1 Predator, and MQ-9 Reaper. He has deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science Degree, Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Joint Fire Power Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, MQ-9 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2015 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
ASSIGNMENTS
- March 2000 – June 2002, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
- September 2002 – April 2003, Student, B-52 Initial Qualification Course, Barksdale AFB, La.
- April 2003 – March 2006, B-52 Aircraft Commander / Executive Officer / Assistant Flight Commander, 23rd Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
- March 2006 – August 2006, Student, MQ-1B Initial Qualification Course, Creech AFB, Nev.
- August 2006 – December 2010, MQ-9/1B Evaluator Pilot / Flight Commander / Assistant Director of Operations, 17th Reconnaissance Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.
- December 2010 – December 2011, MQ-9/1B Evaluator Pilot / Assistant Director of Operations, 78th ATKS, Creech AFB, Nev.
- December 2011 – December 2012 Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 42d Attack Squadron, Creech AFB Nev.
- December 2021 – December 2013 Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 432d Wing, Creech AFB Nev.
- December 2013 – August 2014, Assistant Director of Operations, 78th Attack Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.
- August 2014 – September 2016, Assistant Chief, Special Programs, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense Intelligence, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
- October 2016 – April 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, 91st Attack Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.
- April 2017 – May 2018, Director of Operations, 91st ATKS, Creech AFB, Nev.
- May 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 91st ATKS, Creech AFB, Nev.
- June 2020 – July 2021, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
- August 2021 – November 2021, Deputy Commander, 489th Bomb Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
- November 2021 – December 2023, Commander, 489th Bomb Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
- January 2024 - Present, Deputy Commander, 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,700
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, B-52, MQ-1B, MQ-9, B-1B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with ‘N’ Device
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
AF Longevity Service
AF Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1999
First Lieutenant June 2, 2001
Captain June 2, 2003
Major Feb 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 16, 2015
Colonel Aug 1, 2021
(Current as of January 2024)