COLONEL BRADLEY S. BAKER
Col Bradley “Simon” Baker is the Commander, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing. The wing’s mission is to sustain and defend joint and partner forces while projecting combat power in support of theater plans and operations. He oversees 2,500 military and civilian personnel supporting multiple military operations.
A 2003 graduate from Waynesburg University, Col Baker commissioned through Officer Training School. As an F-15E instructor, he served in various capacities with the 336th and 334th Fighter Squadrons at Seymour Johnson AFB, the 492nd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England, and the 17th Weapons Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Col Baker previously commanded the 57th Weapons Support Squadron at the USAF Weapons School and is an alumnus of the Joint Advanced Warfighting School, the School of Advanced Military Studies, and the USAF Weapons School. Prior to his current position, Col Baker was the Commander, 23d Air Task Force.
Col Baker has accrued 2,100 total flight hours, including 515 combat hours, flying aircraft such as the T-6A, T-1, T-39, T-38C, and F-15E.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Arts, Communications, Waynesburg University, Waynesburg, PA.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2011 F-15E Weapons Instructor Course, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV.
2013 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2015 Masters of Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, FL.
2017 Command and General Staff School, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.
2018 Masters of Arts and Military Operations, School of Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.
2021 Masters of Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk, VA.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2003 – October 2005, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL.
2. November 2005 – August 2006, Student, F-15E FTU, 333rd Fighter Squadron, Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, NC.
3. September 2006 – October 2009, F-15E Instructor WSO, Morale Officer, Scheduler, Assistant Weapons Officer, 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. (September 2007 – January 2008, Operation Enduring Freedom, 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan) (May 2009 – September 2009, Operation Enduring Freedom, 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan)
4. November 2009 – December 2010, F-15E FTU Instructor WSO, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.
5. January 2011 – June 2011, Student, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV.
6. July 2011 – July 2013, F-15E Instructor WSO, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 492nd Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, UK. (December 2011 – May 2012, Global War on Terrorism, 492nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti)
7. August 2013 – June 2016, F-15E Instructor WSO, Director of Operations, 17th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV.
8. July 2016 – June 2017, Student, Command and General Staff School, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.
9. July 2017 – May 2018, Student, School of Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.
10. June 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 57th Weapons Support Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV.
11. July 2020 – July 2021, Student, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk, VA.
12. August 2021 – April 2023, Staff Officer, Homeland Defense Branch Chief, USNORTHCOM J35, Peterson SFB, CO.
13. May 2023 – June 2024, Senior Executive, USNORTHCOM J3, Peterson SFB. CO.
14. July 2024 – May 2026, Commander, 23d Air Task Force, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.
15. May 2026 – Present, Commander, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2021 – June 2024, Homeland Defense Planner and Senior Executive, USNORTHCOM J3, Peterson SFB, CO.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Navigator
Flight hours: 2,100/515 Combat
Aircraft flown: T-6A, T-1, T-39, T-38C and F-15E
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal, 3 Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal, 7 Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Combat Action Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal, 1 Campaign Star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, Sept 17, 2003
First Lieutenant, Sept 17, 2005
Captain, Sept 17, 2007
Major, Dec 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel, Nov 1, 2017
Colonel, Apr 1, 2023
(Current as of May 2026)