COLONEL CHAD M CLIFTON
Colonel Chad M. Clifton is the Commander, 9th Maintenance Group, Beale Air Force Base, California. He is responsible for providing worldwide maintenance support for the U-2, T-38, RQ-4 Global Hawk and MC-12 aircraft. He supports worldwide taskings for the 9th Reconnaissance Wing operating locations and other Joint Chiefs of Staff requirements. The colonel provides management and oversight for the Air Force Combat Amunitions Center.
He was the Chief of the Combat Air Forces and Training Branch, Weapon Systems Division, within the Directorate of Logistics, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters, United States Air Force. He provided direct assistance and counsel to USAF senior leaders on life cycle sustainment of fighters, bombers, unmanned systems and trainers from acquisition to retirement. He supported the organization, training, and equipping of over 150,000 airmen, technicians, and managers to support the USAF mission and provided guidance and support to maintain a Global Strike aerospace inventory of 2,900+ aircraft, valued at over $83B.
Colonel Clifton received his commission in 1989 following graduation from the Reserve Officer Training Corp, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. Colonel Clifton has served in a variety of aircraft maintenance and logistics leadership positions. He was part of the initial cadre at the USAF Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, has commanded two aircraft maintenance squadrons, and has served as a deputy maintenance group commander.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
1995 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2000 Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Operations, Distinguished Graduate, Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
2001 Air Command and Staff College by seminar
2006 Air War College by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. November 1989 - June 1990, Student Pilot, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, OK.
2. June 1990 - February 1992, Air Terminal Operations Officer; February 1992 - April 1993, Officer in Charge of
Passenger Service; 1993 - May 1994, Mobile Aerial Port Flight Operations Officer, 438th Aerial Port Squadron,
McGuire AFB, NJ.
3. May 1994 - July 1995, Commander, Vehicle Operations Flight; July 1995 - July 1996, Commander, Combat
Readiness and Resources Flight; July 1996 - November 1996, Commander, Vehicle Maintenance Flight, 4th
Transportation Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.
4. November 1996 - December 1997, Commander of Vehicle Operations Flight, 8th Transportation Squadron, Kunsan
Air Base, Republic of Korea.
5. December 1997 - July 1998, Commander, Programs Flight, 4th Logistics Support Squadron; July 1998 - October
1999, Commander, Sortie Generation Flight, 334th Fighter Squadron; October 1999 - March 2000, Commander,
Sortie Generation Flight, 335th Fighter Squadron; March 2000 - February 2002, Squadron Maintenance Officer, 333d
Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.
6. February 2002 - June 2004, Director of Missions/Instructor, USAF Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officers
School, Nellis AFB, NV
7. June 2004 - 2006, Commander, 757 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Creech AFB, NV
8. July 2006 - July 2008, Commander, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; then July 2008 - July 2009,
Deputy Commander, 9th Maintenance Group, Beale AFB, CA
9. July 2009 - July 2011, Chief, Combat Air Forces and Training Branch, Weapon Systems Division, Directorate of
Logistics, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters, United States Air Force,
Washington D.C.
10. July 2011 - Present, Commander, 9th Maintenance Group, Beale AFB CA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
USAF Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer's School Instructor of the Year for 2003
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant April 29, 1989
First Lieutenant April 29, 1991
Captain August 5, 1993
Major December 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2005
Colonel May 1, 2011
(Current as of May 2011)
He was the Chief of the Combat Air Forces and Training Branch, Weapon Systems Division, within the Directorate of Logistics, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters, United States Air Force. He provided direct assistance and counsel to USAF senior leaders on life cycle sustainment of fighters, bombers, unmanned systems and trainers from acquisition to retirement. He supported the organization, training, and equipping of over 150,000 airmen, technicians, and managers to support the USAF mission and provided guidance and support to maintain a Global Strike aerospace inventory of 2,900+ aircraft, valued at over $83B.
Colonel Clifton received his commission in 1989 following graduation from the Reserve Officer Training Corp, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. Colonel Clifton has served in a variety of aircraft maintenance and logistics leadership positions. He was part of the initial cadre at the USAF Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, has commanded two aircraft maintenance squadrons, and has served as a deputy maintenance group commander.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
1995 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2000 Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Operations, Distinguished Graduate, Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
2001 Air Command and Staff College by seminar
2006 Air War College by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. November 1989 - June 1990, Student Pilot, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, OK.
2. June 1990 - February 1992, Air Terminal Operations Officer; February 1992 - April 1993, Officer in Charge of
Passenger Service; 1993 - May 1994, Mobile Aerial Port Flight Operations Officer, 438th Aerial Port Squadron,
McGuire AFB, NJ.
3. May 1994 - July 1995, Commander, Vehicle Operations Flight; July 1995 - July 1996, Commander, Combat
Readiness and Resources Flight; July 1996 - November 1996, Commander, Vehicle Maintenance Flight, 4th
Transportation Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.
4. November 1996 - December 1997, Commander of Vehicle Operations Flight, 8th Transportation Squadron, Kunsan
Air Base, Republic of Korea.
5. December 1997 - July 1998, Commander, Programs Flight, 4th Logistics Support Squadron; July 1998 - October
1999, Commander, Sortie Generation Flight, 334th Fighter Squadron; October 1999 - March 2000, Commander,
Sortie Generation Flight, 335th Fighter Squadron; March 2000 - February 2002, Squadron Maintenance Officer, 333d
Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.
6. February 2002 - June 2004, Director of Missions/Instructor, USAF Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officers
School, Nellis AFB, NV
7. June 2004 - 2006, Commander, 757 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Creech AFB, NV
8. July 2006 - July 2008, Commander, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; then July 2008 - July 2009,
Deputy Commander, 9th Maintenance Group, Beale AFB, CA
9. July 2009 - July 2011, Chief, Combat Air Forces and Training Branch, Weapon Systems Division, Directorate of
Logistics, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters, United States Air Force,
Washington D.C.
10. July 2011 - Present, Commander, 9th Maintenance Group, Beale AFB CA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
USAF Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer's School Instructor of the Year for 2003
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant April 29, 1989
First Lieutenant April 29, 1991
Captain August 5, 1993
Major December 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2005
Colonel May 1, 2011
(Current as of May 2011)