COLONEL DAVID J. LEWIS
Colonel David J. Lewis is the Professor of Aerospace Studies and commander of United States Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps Detachment 820 at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.
Colonel Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California, and received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program. He earned his wings at Vance Air Force Base in his first active duty assignment. He has served in various operational and staff assignments to include duty as an instructor pilot and flight examiner in both the T-37 and F-16 aircraft. His staff assignments include duty at Headquarters Air Combat Command where he was primarily responsible for the development of the Block 50 F-16CJ aircraft.
Colonel Lewis has commanded at the flight, operating location, flying squadron, and operations group levels. His combat experience includes service as an air liaison officer with the US First Armored Division in Operation DESERT STORM as well as no-fly zone missions in Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. In the opening days of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM he served as the operations director for the task force that escorted C-17 aircraft into Afghanistan to deliver humanitarian rations. He has served in the European, Pacific, and Southwest Asian theaters, and his career includes duties with the US Army, the US Naval War College as a faculty member, and commander of a foreign fighter squadron. Colonel Lewis is a command pilot with over 3,100 flying hours in fighter and trainer aircraft.
EDUCATION:
1980 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Calif.1986 Squadron Officers School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1995 Master of Business, Administration, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
1995 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2001 Air War College, Correspondence
2003 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, With Distinction
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. February 1981-January 1982, student, undergraduate pilot training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.2. January 1982-December 1984, T-37 instructor pilot, 85th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
3. January 1985-December 1986, T-37 flight examiner, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
4. January 1987-June 1987, F-16 student pilot, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
5. July 1987-July 1989, F-16 instructor pilot, flight commander, 17th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
6. July 1989-March 1990, executive officer, 363d Tactical Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
7. March 1990-March 1992, operating location commander, brigade air liaison officer, Detachment 1, 7th Air Support Operations Group, Schweinfurt Army Installation, Germany
8. March 1992-November 1992, air tactics analyst, intelligence directorate, Headquarters, Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
9. November 1992-March 1995, chief, F-16 Block 50 requirements branch, Headquarters, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
10. April 1995-December 1995, chief, Wing Plans, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Korea
11. January 1996-April 1996, assistant operations officer, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Korea
12. April 1996-August 1998, assistant operations officer, then operations officer, 523d Fighter Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.
13. September 1998-April 2000, commander, 428th Fighter Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.
14. April 2000-Jul 2002, deputy commander, 52d Operations Group, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
15. August 2002-June 2003, student, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
16. June 2003-June 2004, professor of strategy and policy, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
17. June 2004-June 2006, Commander, 14th Operations Group, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
18. July 2006-present, Commander, AFROTC Det 820, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Tx.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command PilotFlying hours: More than 3,100
Aircraft flown: T-1, T-37, T-38 A/B/C and F-16 A/B/C/D
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of MeritBronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Valorous Unit award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with nine devices
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one device
Combat Ready Medal with five devices
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship, Pistol and Rifle
Humanitarian Service Medal with one device
Air Force Longevity Service Medal with five devices
Korean Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two devices
Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal, Emirate of Kuwait
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant June 5, 1980First Lieutenant December 5, 1982
Captain December 5, 1984
Major March 1, 1993
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 1997
Colonel April 1, 2003
(Current as of July 2006)
