Col. Derek S. Stuart is Commander, 14th Operations Group, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. The group conducts Pilot Training and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals for more than 400 U.S. Air Force and international officers each year, using a fleet of 233 T-6A, T-38C and T-1A aircraft and 27 flight simulators at Columbus AFB. In addition, the group directs the tactical training for Afghan pilots and maintenance members utilizing the A-29 Super Tucano at Moody AFB, Georgia. The 14th Operations Group also oversees an air traffic control complex with over 300,000 aircraft movements annually. His command includes eight squadrons with over 1,300 officers, civilians, enlisted and contract personnel.
Colonel Stuart entered the Air Force in 1996 as a graduate of the Reserve Officers Training Corps program at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. He has served in various operational positions including Operational Planner, Director of Operations, Pilot Training Flight Commander and Evaluator Pilot. His staff experience includes a tour at Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington D.C., serving as a Legislative Liaison to the Congressional Armed Services Committees and Executive Officer to the Air Force Chief Information Officer. Prior to this assignment, he was Business and Information Management Branch Head and U.S. Air Force Element Commander, Allied Joint Forces Command, Naples
Colonel Stuart is a Command Pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours in the C-17, C-141, T-6, and T-37. He has flown combat missions in operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Northern Watch, Southern Watch and Allied Force.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Information Systems Management, Utah State University, Logan Utah
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., Distinguished Graduate & Outstanding Contributor
2004 Masters of Business Administration (Information Technology Management Emphasis), Touro Universtiy, Calif.
2006 Air Command and Staff College by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence, National Defense Intelligence College, Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.
2010 Congressional Operations Seminar, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
2011 Air War College by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 NATO Comprehensive Operational Planning Course, The NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1996 – May 1997, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Detachment 860, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
2. May 1997 – September 1998, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
3. September 1998 – September 1999, C-141B Co-pilot, 4th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
4. September 1999 – January 2002, C-17A Aircraft Commander, Squadron Scheduler, Mobility Officer, 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
5. January 2002 – September 2002, T-37B Instructor Pilot, 84th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
6. September 2002 – June 2004, T-6A Evaluator Pilot, Flight Commander, 84th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
7. June 2004 – July 2006, AETC Intern, Chief of T-6A Programs, T-6A MAJCOM Flight Examiner, Nineteenth Air Force, Randolph AFB, Texas
8. July 2006 – July 2007, Assistant Director of Operations, C-17A Instructor Aircraft Commander, 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
9. July 2007 – August 2008, Graduate Student, National Defense Intelligence College, Defense Intelligence Agency, Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.
10. August 2008 – August 2009, Chief, Warfighter Networking Integration, Chief, Policy and Compliance Branch, SAF/CIO A6, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
11. August 2009 – May 2010, Executive Officer to the CIO, SAF/CIO A6, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
12. May 2010 – July 2011, Chief, Mobility, SOF & CSAR Programs, Weapon Systems Division, Air Force Legislative Liaison, Washington D.C.
13. July 2011 – June 2013, Director of Operations, 58th Airlift Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
14. June 2013 – June 2015, Commander, 733d Air Mobility Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan
15. July 2015 – June 2016, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Ala.
16. July 2016 – June 2017, Red Cell Syndicate Leader & Ops Planner, NATO Allied Joint Force Command, Naples, Italy
17. June 2017 – July 2018, Branch Head Business Information Management and US Air Force Element Commander, NATO Allied Joint Force Command, Naples, Italy
18. July 2018 – Present, Commander, 14th Operations Group, Columbus AFB, Miss.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,200
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, C-141B, C-17A, T-6A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 23, 1996
First Lieutenant June 23, 1998
Captain June 23, 2000
Major July 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 1, 2011
Colonel (Frocked) June 1, 2017
Current as of July 2018