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Colonel Chad D. Burdick

Col Burdick is the Deputy Commander of the 944th Fighter Wing located at Luke AFB, Arizona. He assists the commander in leading a Fighter Wing comprised of five Major Weapon Systems (F-35A, F-16C/D, F-15E, A-10C) and multiple Medical, Aeromedical, and Agile Combat Support Force Elements operating at five locations in four different States (Arizona, New Mexico, Florida and North Carolina). The 944th Fighter Wing is tasked to support worldwide combat operations, as well as support the World’s premiere graduate-level Fighter and Attack aircrew training in partnership with Air Combat Command and Air Education and Training Command.

Colonel Burdick graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1998. He attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, earning his wings in 1999. He is a Command Pilot with more than 2,700 flying hours in the F-16 and F-35 and has served as a Mission Commander, Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner in multiple assignments and deployments throughout the Continental United States, Middle East, Europe and Asia. He has over 400 combat hours in support of NOBLE EAGLE, NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM SENTINEL and INHERENT RESOLVE. Additionally, Colonel Burdick served as the Strike Director and Chief of Operations for the United States Army’s 1st Armored Division during the liberation of Mosul, Iraq from Islamic State militants.

Prior to his current position, Col Burdick was the Chief, Combat Operations Division for HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Georgia. In that position he was responsible for providing policy, guidance and oversight for all combat units in Air Force Reserve Command. He and his staff coordinated extensively with the Department of the Air Force, all USAF Major Commands, the National Guard Bureau and multiple Numbered Air Forces on providing the operational direction, organization, training and equipment necessary to posture and present combat ready forces to the Joint Force Commander.

EDUCATION 
1998 Bachelor of Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado 
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama 
2010 Defense Language Institute, Washington D.C. 
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama 
2010 Master of Military Operational Arts and Sciences, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama 
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

ASSIGNMENTS 

  1. October 1998 - March 2000, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Oklahoma 
  1. April 2000 - May 2000, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Columbus AFB, Mississippi  
  1. June 2000 - January 2001, Student, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, Luke AFB, Arizona 
  1. February 2001 - November 2003, F-16 Pilot, 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, South Carolina  
  1. December 2003 - June 2005, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea 
  1. July 2005 - December 2009, Assistant Director of Operations, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, 308th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona  
  1. July 2010 - March 2013, Exchange Officer, Assistant Director of Operations, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, 10th Tactical Wing, Kleine-Brogel Air Base, Belgium 
  1. April 2013 - June 2015, Director of Operations, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, 56th Training Squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona 
  1. July 2015 - October 2015, Special Assistant to the Commander, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, 56th Training Squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona 
  1. November 2015 - April 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, 69th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona 
  1. May 2017 - May 2019, Commander, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, 944th Operational Support Flight, Luke AFB, Arizona 
  1. June 2019 - July 2021, Deputy Commander, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, 944th Operations Group, Luke AFB, Arizona 
  1. August 2021 – April 2024, Chief, Combat Operations Division, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Georgia 
  1. May 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, 944th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Arizona 

 

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 

1. February 2017 - May 2017, Chief of Operations, HQ 1st Armored Division (J3), Irbil, Iraq, as a  Lieutenant colonel 

FLIGHT INFORMATION 

Rating: Command pilot 
Flight hours: More than 2,700, including more than 400 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16, F-35 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters 
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters 
Aerial Achievement Medal 
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf 
Air Force Achievement Medal 
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and two oak leaf clusters 
Combat Readiness Medal 
National Defense Service Medal 
Global War of Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with two bronze stars 
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal 
Korea Defense Service Medal 
Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long 
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border 
Air Force Expeditionary Service Award with five oak leaf clusters 
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon 
Air Force Training Ribbon 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION 
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1998 
First Lieutenant May 27, 2000 
Captain May 27, 2002 
Major November 1, 2007 
Lieutenant March 1, 2013 
Colonel May 1, 2021

(Current as of June 2025)