Colonel John T. Ethridge is the Commander, 49th Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The wing serves as the primary F-16 and MQ-9 training schoolhouse for the United States Air Force, training more than 130 F-16 pilots and 500 MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators annually. Additionally, the wing provides support to more than 20,000 military and civilian personnel to include the 635th Materiel Maintenance Group (Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources) and the 704th Test Group.
Colonel Ethridge received his commission in 2000 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Texas A&M University. He previously served as the Deputy Commander of the 432d Wing, the Crisis Action Planner for Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea, the Commander of the 432d Operations Support Squadron, and as the MQ-9 Reaper Branch Chief at Headquarters Air Force.
He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flight hours. Col Ethridge has flown combat and combat support in operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Inherent Resolve.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Air Command and Staff College by correspondence
2011 Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
2013 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2017 Air War College by correspondence
2020 Master of Science in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2000 – May 2001, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, TX
2. May 2001 – June 2004, E-3 Instructor Navigator, Tinker AFB, OK
3. June 2004 – October 2005, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, OK
4. October 2005 – October 2008, Flight Commander and C-130E/H Aircraft Commander, Little Rock AFB, AR
5. October 2008 – July 2012, MQ-1/9 Evaluator Pilot and Chief of Combat Plans, Creech AFB, NV
6. July 2012 – June 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
7. June 2013 – June 2015, Chief, MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Branch, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. June, 2015 – March 2017, Director of Operations, 432d Operations Support Squadron, Creech AFB, NV
9. March 2017 – March 2019, Commander, 432d Operations Support Squadron, Creech AFB, NV
10. March 2019 – June 2019, Deputy Ops Group Commander, 432d Operations Group, Creech AFB, NV
11. June 2019 – June 2020, Student, National Defense University, Joint Advance Warfighting School,
Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
12. July 2020 – May 2022, Crisis Action Planner, Combined Forces Command, USAG Yongsan, ROK
13. June 2022 – May 2024, Deputy Commander, 432d Wing/432d Air Expeditionary Wing, Creech AFB, NV
14. May 2024 – Present, Commander, 49th Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,000
Aircraft: E-3B/C, C-130E/H, MQ-1, and MQ-9
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with thirteen oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 11, 2000
First Lieutenant June 11, 2002
Captain June 11, 2004
Major May 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel September 1, 2015
Colonel, October 1, 2021
(Current as of 17 May 2024)