Col. Bradley C. Bird is the Vice Commander, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. As vice commander, he assists the wing commander in overseeing Air Combat Command's fleet of E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and ground-based Control and Reporting Centers (CRC) supporting combatant commanders worldwide. He assists the commander in leading over 4,000 men and women at 4 Air Force bases and manages resources that include 27 AWACS aircraft and 2 CRCs valued at $9.4 billion.

In June of 1993, Col Bird earned his commission from the United States Air Force Academy and entered Undergraduate Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB), Texas. He received his wings as a Distinguished Graduate in April 1995 and attended Fighter Lead-In Training at Sheppard AFB. Basic pilot training was followed by initial F-15C training at Tyndall AFB, Florida enroute to his first F-15C assignment at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom. During this period he also served as an F-15C Weapons Officer and an F-15C Weapons School Instructor. Col Bird attended Air Command and Staff College in residence in June 2005, followed by an assignment on the Air Combat Command A3 staff, Langley AFB, Virginia. Col Bird has served as a director of operations for two squadrons and commanded a fighter squadron. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Chief, Force Protection Division, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff J8, Pentagon, Washington D.C.

Col Bird is a command pilot with more than 2,300 flying hours, including more than 200 combat hours.

EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Science Degree in General Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1995 Distinguished graduate, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1996 Distinguished graduate, F-15 Replacement Training, Tyndall AFB, Florida
1999 Academic award, United States Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, F-15, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Air War College by correspondence
2013 Master of National Security and Resource Strategy, The Eisenhower School, Washington D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1989 - June 1993, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2. July 1993 - August 1995, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. August 1995 - March 1996, F-15C Replacement Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. March 1996 - February 1999, F-15C Instructor Pilot, 493th Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
5. July 1999 - December 1999, F-15C Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. March 1999 - January 2002, F-15C Weapons Officer, 58th Fighter Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
7. January 2002 - June 2005, F-15C Weapons School Instructor, 433rd Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. July 2005 - June 2006, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. July 2006 - April 2008, F-15C Weapons and Tactics Program Manager, Headquarters, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
10. April 2008 - June 2009, Director of Operations, 2nd Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
11. June 2009 - June 2010, Director of Operations, 43rd Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
12. June 2010 - July 2012, Commander, 43rd Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
13. August 2012 - June 2013, Student, National Defense University - The Eisenhower School, Washington D.C.
14. July 2013 - August 2015, Chief, Force Protection Division, CJCS J8, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
15. September 2015 - Present, 552nd Air Control Wing, Vice Wing Commander, Tinker AFB Okla.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 2300 total hours with over 200 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-15A/C, F-22A, E-3B/C

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 2 June 1993
First Lieutenant 2 June 1995
Captain, 2 June 1997
Major 1 Sept. 2003
Lieutenant Colonel 1 Sept. 2008
Colonel 1 Oct. 2014

(Current as of September 2015)