Col. Nathan L. Owen is deputy commander at 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. In this role, Colonel Owen assists the commander in providing combat ready aircraft, aircrew, and associated combat support for global taskings.
Col Owen received his commission in 2001 from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has served in a variety of flying, staff, and joint positions as an A/OA-10 pilot, instructor pilot, flight examiner, and as an Action Officer on the 7th Air Force Commander’s Action Group. Col Owen has flown combat and combat support missions in Operation Enduring Freedom and was deployed as a Battalion Air Liaison Officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Prior to this assignment, Col Owen was assigned to Headquarters United States European Command acting as the Assistant to the Director for the Missile Defense Agency.
Colonel Owen is a Command Pilot with 237 hours in combat and more than 2,100 total hours flown in
T-38, A-10A, A-10C, and F-16 aircraft.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science in Political Science, United States Air Force Academy, CO
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence, American Military University, PA
2011 Air Command and Staff College by Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 Associate Degree in German Language, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, CA
2019 Air War College by Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2019 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2001 – April 2003, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Various Locations
2. April 2003 – June 2004, Student, A-10 Pilot Training, Davis-Monthan AFB, Az.
3. June 2004 – June 2005, A-10 pilot, Battalion Liaison Officer, 74th Fighter Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
4. June 2005 – August 2006, A-10 pilot, Life Support Officer, 74th Fighter Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
5. August 2006 – May 2007, A-10 IP, Training Officer, 74th Fighter Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
6. May 2007 – November 2007, A-10 IP, Assistant Chief Weapons & Tactics, 51st Operational Support Squadron, Osan AB, Korea
7. November 2007 – May 2008, A-10 IP, Flight Commander, 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, Korea
8. May 2008 – May 2009, A-10 Evaluator, Chief A-10 Standardization and Evaluation, 51st Operations Group, Osan AB, Korea
9. May 2009 – June 2010, A-10 IP, Commander’s Action Group Action Officer, 7 AF, Osan AB, Korea
10. June 2010 – May 2011, A-10 Evaluator, Assistant Director of Operations, 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Az.
11. May 2011 – March 2012, A-10 Evaluator, Chief of Exercises, 355th Operations Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Az.
12. March 2012 – September 2014, A-10IP, Chief, Plans and Programs, 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Az.
13. September 2014 – September 2015, Student, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, Ca.
14. September 2015 – May 2017, Exchange Officer, German Air Staff, Cologne, Germany
15. June 2017 – June 2019, Commander, 4 Combat Training Squadron, Einsiedlerhof Station, Germany
16. July 2019 – July 2022, Chief, Air-Sea Integration Branch, ALSA Center, JB Langley-Eustis, Va.
17. July 2022 – June 2024, Assistant to the Director, Missile Defense Agency, Patch Barracks, Germany
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2019 – June 2022, Chief Air Sea Integration Branch, Air Land Sea Application Center, JB Langley-Eustis, Va. as a Lieutenant Colonel
2. June 2022 –June 2024, Assistant to the Director, Missile Defense Agency, Patch Barracks, Germany as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2200
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-38A, T-38C, A-10A, A-10C, F-16
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
German Iron Cross in Silver
Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
2007 USAF Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award, Weapons and Tactics, 51st OSS, Osan AB, Korea
2015 Distinguished Graduate, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, CA
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 2001
First Lieutenant May 30, 2003
Captain May 30, 2005
Major March 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2016
Colonel November 1, 2022
(Current as of Jul 2024)