Col. Bailey is the Commander, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Colonel Bailey leads a wing 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 United States Protection Level-1 assets in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization and U.S. missions as directed by the President and Secretary of Defense. The wing supports the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe with mission-ready personnel and systems providing expeditionary air power for suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses, air interdiction, close-air support, counter-air, strategic attack, combat search and rescue, and nontraditional intelligence.
Col. Bailey received his commission through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1995. He has served as a flight lead, instructor, and mission commander in the F-16 and C-130. He has commanded at the squadron and group levels. His staff assignments include the Headquarters Air Force Staff and the Joint Staff. Colonel Bailey is a senior pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, including more than 600 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science degree in political science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Air War College, by correspondence
2014 Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1996-May 1997, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola NAS, Fla. / Randolph AFB, Texas
2. December 1997-June 2001, Instructor Navigator, Mission Scheduler, and Assistant Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 41st Airlift Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
3. June 2001-July 2002, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
4. September 2002-August 2003, Student, Formal Training Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. September 2003-April 2005, Flight Lead and Flight Commander, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
6. May 2005-July 2007, Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, and then Director of Operations, 523rd Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
7. July 2007-July 2008, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 2008-October 2010, Pilot Career Field Manager/Aggressor PEM/CAF Training PEM and then Chief, Colonel Fighter/ABM/ATC Assignments, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
9. February 2011–July 2013, Instructor Pilot, Chief of 31st Fighter Wing Plans and Programs, then Commander, 31st Operations Support Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
10. August 2013-June 2014 Student, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. July 2014–July 2016, Deputy Division Chief, Global Force Management Division, JCS J-3, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2016–July 2017, Commander, 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan
13. August 2017–present, Commander, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
July 2014–July 2016, Deputy Division Chief, Global Force Management Division, JCS J-3, as a lieutenant colonel and a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 3,000 includes more than 600 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: F-16C/CG/CM, C-130J, EC-130, HH-60, T-38, T-37, C-130E, T-43, and T-34
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 1995
First Lieutenant May 31, 1997
Captain May 31, 1999
Major Aug. 1, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2010
Colonel May 1, 2016
(Current as of August 2017)