Colonel Geoff Cameron is the Installation and 9th Reconnaissance Wing Commander, Beale Air Force Base, California. 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.
Colonel 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. Colonel 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 command pilot with over 4350 hours including over 1100 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Cameron was the Director of Operations and Plans, 7th Air Force, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.
Colonel Cameron is married to Kim Nguyen-Cameron and they have three sons.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2011 Flight Safety Program Manager Course, Kirtland Air Force Base, NM
2016 Distinguished Graduate, Masters of Arts in Military Arts and Sciences, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL 2017 Masters of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL
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 – Oct 2004, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX
2. Oct 2004 – Jul 2005, Student, Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph AFB, TX
3. Jul 2005 – Jun 2008, T-38 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Executive Officer, 87th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
4. Jul 2008 – Jun 2009, Student, U-2 Qualification, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
5. Jun 2009 – Jun 2010, Mission Pilot/Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
6. Sep 2010 – Feb 2011, Executive Officer, 9th Operations Group, Beale AFB, CA
7. Feb 2011 – Sep 2011, Executive Officer and Deputy Director, Commander’s Action Group, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, CA
8. Sep 2011 – Jul 2013, Assistant Director of Operations, 1st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
9. Jul 2013 – Jul 2015, Special Duty Officer and Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff, United States Central Command, MacDill AFB, FL
10. Jul 2015 – Jun 2016, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
11. Jul 2016 – Jul 2017, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL
12. Aug 2017 – Jun 2018, Director of Operations, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
13. Jun 2018 – Jun 2019, Commander, 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, UAE
14. Jun 2019 – Jun 2020, Deputy Commander and Commander, 9th Operations Group, Beale AFB, CA
15. Jun 2020 – Aug 2021, Director, Future Plans and Operations (A578), Beale AFB, CA
16. Aug 2021 – Jul 2022, Student, US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA
17. Jul 2022 – Apr 2023, Deputy Director, Operations and Plans Division (A3/A5), 7th Air Force, Osan AB, ROK
18. Apr 2023 – Jun 2024, Director of Operations and Plans (A3/A5), 7th Air Force, Osan AB, ROK
19. Jun 2024 – Jun 2026, Commander, 9th Operations Group, Beale AFB, CA
20. Jun 2026 – Present, Commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, CA
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jul 2013 – Jul 2015 Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff, United States Central Command, MacDill AFB, FL, 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 Sep 2013
Lieutenant Colonel, 1 Oct 2017
Colonel, 1 Apr 2023
(Current as of June 2026)