Col Hector Ortega is the Deputy Commander, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW. The 380 AEW is comprised of 1,800 joint warfighters supporting 12 squadrons, a robust air staff, and a special staff. As the Deputy Commander, he is responsible for managing all aspects of operations, maintenance, and support for the entire wing. He leads all wing staff functions to assist the commander in conducting the wing’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, command and control reporting center mission, and armed overwatch missions. Col Ortega supports theater security cooperation efforts with international partners and is responsible for Agile Combat Employment and Dynamic Force Employment missions in direct support of U.S. Air Forces Central and U.S. Central Command priorities.
The Colonel entered the United States Air Force through Officer Training School in May of 2001. 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.
Prior to this assignment Colonel Ortega was the Director of Operations for Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. 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 instrumental battlespace for live, virtual, and consecutive testing and training.
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 – Present, Deputy Commander, 380 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 Jun 2025)