COLONEL CHRISTOPHER R. STRICKLIN Col Chris R. Stricklin is the Vice Commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base, California. The 9th Reconnaissance Wing is responsible for the entire Air Force high-altitude reconnaissance fleet of RQ-4 Global Hawk and U-2 Dragonlady aircraft. As Vice Commander, Colonel Stricklin oversees qualification and continuation training, and monitors the planning and execution of JCS tasked reconnaissance missions around the globe. The 9th Reconnaissance Wing is comprised of five groups and five overseas operating locations which execute worldwide missions in support of all six geographic combatant commanders with an annual flying allocation of more than 22,000 hours. Colonel Stricklin received his commissioned from the United States Air Force Academy in 1994. Following pilot training at Sheppard AFB, his flight experience includes F-15C pilot at Eglin AFB, evaluator pilot at Tyndall AFB, Thunderbird demonstration pilot at Nellis AFB and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Commander at Columbus AFB. His staff assignments include HQ USAF and three tours in NATO as well as serving as a Fellow in the FY12 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Service Chiefs Program, then a short-term fellowship in the Executive Office of the President. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Deputy Director and US Senior National Representative, NATO Centre of Excellence - Defense Against Terrorism. Colonel Stricklin is a Command Pilot with more than 2,000 flying hours in the RQ-4, F-15C, F-16, AT-38, T-38 and T-37. EDUCATION 1994 Bachelor of Science, Economics, US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo 2000 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala 2001 Master Degree in Aeronautical Science - Aeronautics Specialization, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla 2005 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence 2007 Air War College, Correspondence 2008 Master Degree in Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2013 Master Degree in National Strategic Studies, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa 2015 USAF Enterprise Leadership Course, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C. ASSIGNMENTS 1. June 1994 - October 1995, Student, Euro-NATO joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB), Texas 2. October 1995 - October 1996, USAF Basic Operational training Course F-15, Tyndall AFB, Fla 3. October 1996 - May 1997, F-15C Pilot, Eglin AFB, Fla 4. May 1997 - February 1998, F-15C Electronic Combat Pilot, Eglin AFB, Fla 5. March 1998 - February 1999, Chief of Squadron Standardization and Evaluation, Eglin AFB, Fla 6. March 1999 - August 1999, Assistant Chief of Squadron Weapons and tactics, Eglin AFB, Fla 7. September 1999 - August 2000, F-15 Instructor Pilot/Activity Security manager, Tyndall AFB, Fla 8. September 2000 - February 2001, F-15 Instructor Pilot/Chief of Sq Standardization /Evaluation, Tyndall AFB, Fla 9. February 2001 - January 2002, F-15 Instructor Pilot/Flight commander, Tyndall AFB, Fla 10. January 2002 - July 2002, Assistant Chief, Standardization/Evaluation, Tyndall AFB, Fla 11. July 2002 - January 2004, Thunderbird Opposing Solo Pilot, Nellis AFB, Nev 12. January 2004 - June 2006, Pilot Career Field Manager, Headquarters Air Force, Washington, DC 13. June 2006 - August 2007, Chief Fighter Ops, NATO Combined Air Operations Center Six, Eskisehir AB, Turkey 14. August 2007 - August 2008, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala 15. August 2008 - February 2009, Assistant Director of Operations, 49 Fighter Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss 16. February 2009 - June 2010, Chief of Wing Safety, 14 Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, Miss 17. June 2010 - June 2012, 49 Fighter Training Squadron Commander, Columbus AFB, Miss 18. June 2012 - June 2013, Student, US Army War College 19. July 2013 - June 2014, Chief of Staff NATO Air Training Command / 438 Air Expeditionary Wing, Kabul, Afghanistan 20. July 2014 - May 2014, Deputy Director and US Senior National Representative, NATO COE-DAT, Ankara, Turkey 21. June 2014 - Present, Vice Commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command Pilot Flight Hours: More than 2,000 Aircraft Flown: RQ-4, F-15C, F-16, T-38C, AT-38 and T-37 MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Bronze Star Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Medal Aerial Achievement Medal Air Force Commendation Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal AF Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters AF Organizational Excellence Award Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star Global War on Terrorism Service Medal AF Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with one oak leaf cluster NATO Medal EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant June 1, 1994 First Lieutenant June 1, 1996 Captain June 1, 1998 Major September 1, 2004 Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2008 Colonel September 1, 2014 (Current as of November 2015)