Colonel Nicholas S. Lofthouse is the Commander, 14th Operations Group, Columbus AFB, Mississippi. The Group conducts Pilot Training and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals for more than 400 U.S. Air Force and international officers each year with a fleet of 212 T-6A, T-38C and T-1A aircraft and 27 flight simulators at Columbus AFB. He oversees an air traffic control complex with over 300,000 aircraft movements annually and his command includes seven squadrons with over 1,300 officers, civilians, enlisted, and contract personnel.
Col Lofthouse entered the Air Force in 2003 through the United States Air Force Academy. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Military History from the Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in Quantitative Finance from the University of London, a Master of Arts in Military Operational Art and Science from Air Command and Staff College at Air University, and most recently a Master of Science in National Security and Resource Strategy from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School at National Defense University. Col Lofthouse graduated from SUPT at Columbus Air Force Base in 2004, and is a Command Pilot with over 1,200 flying hours in the T-38C, F15A/B/C/D and F-22A. His flying duties include qualifications as an instructor pilot, flight evaluator, and mission commander. Previous assignments have included duties as a Flight Commander, Legislative Liaison for Alaskan Command and 11th Air Force, Requirements Officer on the Air Staff, Director of Operations for the 90th Fighter Squadron, and Commander of the 3rd Operations Support Squadron. Col Lofthouse has deployed to USPACOM and to Baghdad, Iraq, in 2017 as the Team Leader for the Air Defense Liaison Team. Prior to this assignment, he was the Future Operations Division Chief at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science degree in Military History, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2010 Master of Science degree in Quantitative Finance, University of London, UK.
2015 Master of Arts degree in Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2021 Master of Science degree in National Security and Resource Strategy, Dwight D. Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2003 –April 2005, Student Pilot, Columbus AFB, Mississippi.
2. May 2005 – Dec 2005, F-15C qualification training, Tyndall AFB, Florida.
3. January 2006 – July 2008, F-15 Flight Lead and Executive Officer, 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan.
4. August 2008 – September 2008, F-22 qualification training, 43d Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Florida.
5. October 2008 – July 2014, F-22 Instructor Pilot, Mobility Flight Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, 525th Fighter Squadron; and Legislative Liaison at 11th Air Force and Alaskan Command, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
6. August 2014 – June 2015, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
7. July 2015 – September 2017, Chief of Force Multiplier Capabilities Requirements Branch, Air Staff HAF/A5R-C, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. October 2017 – December 2017, F-22 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Director of Operations, 525th Fighter Squadron, Joint-Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
9. January 2018 – November 2018, Director of Operations, F-22 Instructor Pilot, and Flight Evaluator, 90th Fighter Squadron, Joint-Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
10. December 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 3d Operations Support Squadron, 3d Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
11. July 2020 – June 2021, Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2021 – July 2024, Campaign Branch Chief and Division Chief, Future Operations Division, Operations Directorate, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson SFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
13. July 2024 – Present, Commander, 14th Operations Group, Columbus AFB, Mississippi.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot Flight hours: Over 1,200
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-15 A/B/C/D/E, F-22A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award (2 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal Operation INHERENT RESOLVE Campaign Medal (2 Bronze Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Ribbon - Long Tour (1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air and Space Longevity Service Award (4 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (1 Bronze Star)
Air and Space Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, 28 May 2003
First Lieutenant, 28 May 2005
Captain, 28 May 2007
Major, 1 October 2013
Lieutenant Colonel, 1 October 2017
Colonel, 1 April 2023
(Current as of July 2024)