Colonel Timothy J. Rott 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. Rott graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2004 and went on to become a contracting officer at Grand Forks AFB. After retraining as one of the first 18X RPA Pilots in 2009, he has spent the majority of his career supporting United States Special Operations Command as an aviator, staff officer, and across several operational deployments in support of combat operations.
Prior to his current position, He served as the Commander of the 33rd Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico and most recently was the ISR Assessments Division Chief, J32, Joint Staff.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
2008 Master of Business Administration in General Management, University of Mary, Grand Forks AFB, ND
2010 Squadron Officer School in Residence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2017 Air Command and Staff College in Residence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2017 Master of Military Operation Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2022 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Ft McNair, DC
ASSIGNMENTS
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June 2004 – October 2009, Contract Administrator and Wing Executive Officer, 319th Contracting Squadron, Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND
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October 2009 – December 2013, MQ-1B Evaluator Pilot and Assistant Operations Officer, 3rd Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
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December 2013 – July 2016, Joint Airborne ISR Planner, Aviation Tactics and Evaluation Group, Ft Bragg, NC
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July 2016 – June 2017, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
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June 2017 – June 2019, Operations Officer, 33rd Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
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June 2019 – June 2021, Commander, 33rd Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
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July 2021 – June 2022, Student, National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
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June 2022 – June 2023, Deputy Chief, Actions Division, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
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June 2023 – July 2025, ISR Assessments Division Chief, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
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July 2025 – Present, Commander, 49th Operations Group, Holloman AFB, NM
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
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December 2013 – July 2016, Joint Airborne ISR Planner, Aviation Tactics and Evaluation Group, Ft. Bragg, NC, as a major
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June 2022 – June 2023, Deputy Chief, Actions Division, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
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June 2023 – July 2025, ISR Assessments Division Chief, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior RPA Pilot
Flight hours: More than 1500
Aircraft flown: MQ-1, MQ-9
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with Seven Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2006
Captain June 2, 2008
Major July 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2017
Colonel October 1, 2023
(Current as of July 2025)