Col. Daniel R. Lindsey is the Deputy Commander of the 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. The wing is comprised of more than 5,000 dedicated military and civilian personnel who maintain, deploy, and employ the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft and $6 billion of assets used in support of United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization missions and in support of the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, with mission-ready personnel and systems providing expeditionary air power for suppression of enemy air defenses, counterair, air interdiction and close-air support.
Col. Lindsey earned his commission from the Air Force ROTC program at Oklahoma State University in 2002. He went on to attend Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, followed by F-16 training at Luke AFB, Ariz. Throughout his career he has served in four different major commands, with duties including Division Chief at the 603d Air Operations Center, 52d Operations Group deputy commander, 510th Fighter Squadron commander, 555th Fighter Squadron director of operations, F-16 Flight Examiner and Instructor Pilot. Colonel Lindsey is a command pilot with more than 2,800 flying hours, including 650 combat hours in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL and NOBEL EAGLE. Prior to his current position, he was the Combat Operations Division Chief, 603d Air Operations Center, Ramstein AB, Germany.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Aerospace Science, Oklahoma State University, Okla.
2003 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 & 2016 Master of Military Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Senior Developmental Education, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2003 – October 2004, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 2004 – July 2005, Student, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, 309th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. July 2005 – June 2006, Assistance Chief of Aircrew Standardization and Evaluation, 34th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
4. June 2006 – May 2007, Assistance Chief of Scheduling, 34th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
5. May 2007– April 2008, Executive Officer, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
6. April 2008 – August 2008, F-16 pilot (deployed), 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
7. August 2008 – May 2009, Flight Commander, 51st Operations Support Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
8. May 2009 – October 2009, Chief of Aircrew Standardization and Evaluation, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
9. October 2009 – February 2011, Flight Commander, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
10. February 2011 – September 2011, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 51st Operations Group, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
11. September 2011 – March 2013, Assistant Director of Operations, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
12. March 2013 – August 2014, Chief of Nuclear Plans and Programs, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano AB, Italy
13. August 2014 – July 2015, Deputy Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 412th Operations Group, Edwards AFB, Calif.
14. July 2015 – August 2016, Intermediate Developmental Education Student, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. August 2016 – January 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
16. January 2017 – October 2018, Director of Operations, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
17. October 2018 – July 2019, Chief of Safety, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano AB, Italy
18. July 2019 – June 2021, Commander, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
19. June 2021 – June 2023, Deputy Commander, 52d Operations Group, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
20. June 2023 – June 2024, Combat Plans Division Chief, 603d Air Operations Center, Ramstein AB, Germany
21. June 2024 – June 2025, Combat Operations Division Chief, 603d Air Operations Center, Ramstein AB, Germany
22. June 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
F-16 Flight Hours: More than 2,600 hours including more than 600 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16A/C/D Block 15, 25, 30, 40, 42, 50
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Dec. 24, 2002
First Lieutenant Dec. 24, 2004
Captain Dec. 24, 2006
Major Nov. 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 1, 2017
Colonel Nov. 1, 2023
(Current as of July 2025)