Colonel Derek Spear is the Commander of the 704th Test Group, Holloman AFB, New Mexico. He is responsible for flight and ground testing of advanced air capabilities for lethality, speed, survivability, and stealth. These include avionics and weapon systems flight tests, inertial navigation and Global Positioning System tests, high speed test track operations, as well as landing gear, survivability, directed energy, and radar cross-section tests for joint weapon systems. In addition, his group is the liaison for all Air Force test programs on the White Sands Missile Range. The group operates C-12 and T-38 aircraft and over $1.7B worth of sophisticated, world-unique test assets.
Col Spear received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in June 2004. He completed United States Naval Test Pilot School in 2012 and went on to fly test missions in the UH-1N, TH-1H, HH-60G, and in support of the Guardian Angel Weapon System. Col Spear has deployed as an Air Advisor and served as the Joint Air Component Coordination Element Deputy Director for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation INHERENT RESOLVE at Forward Operating Base Union III in Baghdad, Iraq. Following his deployment, he commanded the 96th Operations Support Squadron and served as the Chief of Safety for the 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base. Prior to his current position, Col Spear was the Commander of Detachment 1 of Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, leading the Flight Operations and Standardization and Evaluations Division, responsible for providing policy and oversight for 49 Air Force and Defense Contract Management Agency flying units operating 84 aircraft types at 25 sites.
Col Spear and his wife Janea have been married since 2014 and have two children, Embry and Hunter.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2005 Joint Undergraduate Pilot Training, NAS Whiting Field, FL
2006 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training – Helicopter, Fort Rucker, AL
2009 Master of Art in International Relations, University of Oklahoma, OK
2010 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2012 U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, NAS Patuxent River, MD
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL (in correspondence)
2015 Master of Science in Aviation Systems, University of Tennessee, TN
2017 Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, NC
2020 Air War College, Air University, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL (in correspondence)
2021 Doctorate of Philosophy in Aeronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, OH
2024 Artificial Intelligence Professional Program, Stanford University, CA
ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2004 – January 2005, Standardization and Evaluation Liaison Officer, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
- January 2005 – December 2005, Student Pilot, Training Squadron 3, NAS Whiting Field, FL
- January 2006 – April 2007, Student Pilot, 23rd Flying Training Squadron, Fort Rucker, AL
- April 2007 – April 2009, Executive Officer / Instructor Pilot, 459th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan
- April 2009 – June 2011, Flight Commander / Instructor Pilot, 23rd Flying Training Squadron, Fort Rucker, AL
- June 2011 – June 2012, Test Pilot Under Instruction, U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, NAS Patuxent River, MD
- June 2012 – August 2015, Flight Commander / Evaluator Pilot, 413th Flight Test Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
- August 2015 – August 2018, Commander, Detachment 1, 413th Flight Test Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, NV
- August 2018 – October 2021, Doctoral Candidate, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
- October 2021 – August 2022, Chief of Flight Safety, 96th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, FL (January 2022 – July 2022, Deputy Director, Joint Air Component Coordination Element, Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, Union III, Iraq)
- August 2022 – July 2024, Commander, 96th Operations Support Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL
- July 2024 – June 2025, Chief of Safety, 96th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, FL
- June 2025 – June 2026, Commander, Detachment 1, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin AFB, FL
- June 2026 – Current, Commander, 704th Test Group, Holloman AFB, NM
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 2,500+
Aircraft flown: More than 40 types, including the T-34C, UH-1H/N/V, TH-1H, UH-60A/L, UH-72A, C-12C, and HH-60G/U.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with “N” Device
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2006
Captain June 2, 2008
Major June 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel February 1, 2019
Colonel November 1, 2025
(Current as of April 2026)