Col Hector M. Ortega is the Commander, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates.  As the Commander, he is responsible for all aspects of operations, maintenance, sustainment, and support for the entire wing, which is comprised of Army, Navy, and Air Force Joint warfighters, and consists of fifteen unit level operational and support functions and capabilities, a robust air staff, and a special staff. The wing provides dominant coalition combat operations and integrated command and control with regional partners. It also supports the Air Forces Central Air Warfare Center, and supports theater security cooperation efforts with international partners, in direct support of U.S. Air Forces Central and U.S. Central Command priorities.

Col Ortega has served in multiple leadership positions at the squadron and wing levels. He commanded an Operations Support Squadron, served as the Director of Staff at the wing level, and was the Deputy Commander for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. Other notable assignments include Chief of International C4ISR Programs, in the office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, the Pentagon; and Director of Operations for the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), where he supported Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Air Force, Joint, and multi-national test and training activities in the United States’ largest and most sophisticated instrumented battlespace for live, virtual, and constructive testing and training.

Colonel Ortega entered the United States Air Force through Officer Training School. His career includes a breadth of experience supporting multiple operations around the world in the RC-135, OC-135, WC-135, T-43, MQ-1B and MQ-9 aircraft. He is a senior RPA pilot and senior navigator with more than 3,500 flying hours, nearly 600 instructor and evaluator hours, and over 2,000 hours of combat and combat support.

 

EDUCATION

2000 Bachelor of Arts in Economics, California State University, San Bernardino, Calif

2001 Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala

2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala

2008 Master of Business Administration, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo

2013 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence

2021 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY

1. May 2001 – Jul 2002, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas

2. Jul 2002 – Oct 2006, Section Chief, Weapons and Tactics Instructor, Offutt AFB, Neb

3. Oct 2006 – Jan 2010, Chief Executive Officer, 562d Flying Training Sq, Randolph AFB, Texas

4. Jan 2010 – Jul 2010, Undergraduate Remote Pilot Training, Randolph AFB, Texas

5. Aug 2010 – Apr 2011, Director of Staff, 15th Reconnaissance Sq, Creech AFB, Nev

6. Apr 2011 – Oct 2014, Asst Director of Operations, 22d Reconnaissance Sq, Creech AFB, Nev

7. Oct 2014 – Mar 2017, Chief, International C4SIR Programs, Wpns & Technology Transfer Division, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.

8. Apr 2017 – Jun 2018, Director of Operations, 15th Attack Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev

9. Dec 2018 – Dec 2020, Commander, 732d Operations Support Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev

10. Jan 2021 – Apr 2023, 432d Wing/432 AEW Director of Staff, Creech AFB, Nev

11. May 2023 – May 2025, Director of Operations, Nevada Test and Training Range, Nellis AFB, Nev

12. Jun 2025 – Oct 2025, Deputy Commander, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing

13. Oct 2025 – Present, Commander, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Senior RPA Pilot / Senior Navigator

Flight hours: More than 3,500

Combat/combat support hours: More than 2,000

Aircraft flown: RC-135, OC-135, WC-135, T-43, MQ-1B and MQ-9

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Legion of Merit

Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Aerial Achievement Medal with 19 oak leaf clusters

Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Air and Space Achievement Medal

Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters

Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters

Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award

Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster

National Defense Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal

Remote Combat Effect Campaign Medal with four Service Stars

Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal

(Current as of Oct 2025)