Col. Charles G. Cameron is the commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base, California. As the commander, he is responsible for approximately 7,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel, and the entire Air Force high altitude reconnaissance fleet of U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft. The 9th Reconnaissance Wing is comprised of four groups and four overseas operating locations, executing worldwide missions in support of all six geographic combatant commanders.
Col. Cameron entered Air Force service in 2003 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He graduated pilot training from Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas in 2004 and served there as a T-38 First Assignment Instructor Pilot before transitioning to the U-2. He flew the U-2 operationally for multiple assignments including tours supporting five Combatant Commands. Col. Cameron commanded the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates; a joint and combined U-2 and RQ-4 unit. He is a command pilot with over 4350 hours including over 1100 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to his current assignment, Col. Cameron was the Director of Operations and Plans, 7th Air Force, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. 2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Flight Safety Program Manager Course, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2016 Distinguished Graduate, Masters of Arts in Military Arts and Sciences, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Masters of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Distinguished Graduate, Masters of Strategic Studies, US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2023 Machine Learning in Business, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Executive Education Program
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2003 – October 2004, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
2. October 2004 – July 2005, Student, Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. July 2005 – June 2008, T-38 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Executive Officer, 87th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
4. July 2008 – June 2009, Student, U-2 Qualification, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
5. June 2009 – June 2010, Mission Pilot/Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
6. September 2010 – February 2011, Executive Officer, 9th Operations Group, Beale AFB, Calif.
7. February 2011 – September 2011, Executive Officer and Deputy Director, Commander’s Action Group, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.
8. September 2011 – July 2013, Assistant Director of Operations, 1st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
9. July 2013 – July 2015, Special Duty Officer and Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff, United States Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
10. July 2015 – June 2016, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. July 2016 – July 2017, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. August 2017 – June 2018, Director of Operations, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
13. June 2018 – June 2019, Commander, 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, UAE
14. June 2019 – June 2020, Deputy Commander and Commander, 9th Operations Group, Beale AFB, Calif.
15. June 2020 – August 2021, Director, Future Plans and Operations (A578), Beale AFB, Calif.
16. August 2021 – July 2022, Student, US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
17. July 2022 – April 2023, Deputy Director, Operations and Plans Division (A3/A5), 7th Air Force, Osan AB, ROK
18. April 2023 – June 2024, Director of Operations and Plans (A3/A5), 7th Air Force, Osan AB, ROK
19. June 2024 – June 2026, Commander, 9th Operations Group, Beale AFB, Calif.
20. June 2026 – Present, Commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2013 – July 2015 Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff, United States Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a Major
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 4350 hours with over 1100 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: U-2S, TU-2ST, RQ-4 and T-38A/C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, 28 May 2003
First Lieutenant, 28 May 2005
Captain, 28 May 2007
Major, 1 September 2013
Lieutenant Colonel, 1 October 2017
Colonel, 1 April 2023
(Current as of June 2026)