Colonel BRAD N. HOWELL

Colonel Brad N. Howell is the Commander, 49th Operations Group, Holloman AFB, NM. The group is comprised of the 6th Attack Squadron, 9th Attack Squadron, 16th Training Squadron, and 29th Attack Squadron at Holloman AFB, with the 491st Attack Squadron at Hancock Field ANGB in Syracuse, NY and the 492nd Attack Squadron at March ARB in Riverside, CA. The 49th Operations Group is the lead MQ-9 Reaper Formal Training Unit building the backbone of combat airpower for our nation.
Col Howell commissioned into the United States Air Force in 2003 through the United States Air Force Academy. He began his career as an F-15C pilot and then transitioned to RPA, having served as an Instructor/Evaluator Pilot in the MQ-1 and MQ-9 in multiple operational and training squadrons. Col Howell is a distinguished graduate from the Air Force’s Weapons School, a Blue Horizons Fellow, and commanded the 867th Attack Squadron in Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.
Prior to his current position, Col Howell was the Chief of Penetrating Persistent Multi-Role Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

zzEDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Management, USAFA, Colo. 2004 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Master of Airpower Strategy and Tech Integration, CSAF Blue Horizons Fellow, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2020 Master of National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School for National Security, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2003 – May 2004, Transition Officer, McChord AFB, Wash
2. May 2004 – January 2006 Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., then Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody AFB, Georgia
3. January 2006 – September 2006, Student, F-15C Eagle Training, Tyndall AFB, Florida
4. September 2006 – November 2007, Scheduling Officer, 493th FS, RAF Lakenheath, England
5. November 2007 – December 2010, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 42 ATKS, Creech AFB, Nev.
6. December 2010 – June 2011, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. June 2011 – February 2013, M-9 Eval Pilot and Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 29th ATKS, Holloman AFB, N.M.
8. February 2013 – July 2015, MQ-9 WIC Instructor, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, 26 WPS, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. July 2015 – July 2016, CSAF Blue Horizons Fellow, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. July 2016 – July 2019, Director of Operations then Commander, 867 ATKS, Creech AFB, Nev.
11. July 2019 – June 2020, Student, Eisenhower School, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2020 – June 2022, Operations Officer, Joint Staff Deputy Directorate for Regional Operations J35, Pentagon
13. June 2022 – July 2023, Division Chief, Penetrating Persistent Multi-Role Operations, HAF/A3, Pentagon
14. July 2023 – Present, Commander, 49th Operations Group, Holloman AFB, N.M.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 1,800, including more than 800 hours in combat Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-15C, MQ-1, and MQ-9

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal with ten oak leaf clusters Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force STEM Award for Engineering Achievement

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2003
First Lieutenant May 28, 2005
Captain May 28, 2007
Major July 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2016
Colonel June 1, 2022

(Current as of July 2023)