Col John P. Anderson is the Commander, 12th Operations Group,
12th Flying Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph,
Texas. The group is responsible for introduction to fighter
fundamentals student and instructor upgrade missions, as well as
the Air Force’s pilot instructor training, undergraduate remotely
piloted aircraft pilot training, and basic sensor operator training
programs. The group consists of five flying training squadrons, an
operations support squadron, and a training squadron with more
than 350 flying instructors, 20 enlisted members, and 282 DoD
civilians and contractors who collectively produce more than 1,000
graduates per year.
Prior to assuming his current position, Col Anderson served as the
Chief of Air Forces Central’s Future Operations Division (A35)
responsible for operationalizing strategic guidance for U.S. Central
Command’s air component.
Col Anderson is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, T-6 Pilot Instructor Training, and F-16C Initial Qualification Course. He has performed duties as an F-16C mission commander, instructor pilot, and evaluation flight examiner and flew combat sorties over Iraq and Libya in Operations NEW DAWN, ODYSSEY DAWN, and UNIFIED PROTECTOR.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science in Operations Research, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2007 Master of Business Administration, Mississippi State University, Miss.
2012 NATO Tactical Leadership Programme, Los Llanos AB, Spain
2016 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Master of Science in National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington DC.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2003 - December 2004, student pilot, 37th & 50th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss.
2. December 2004 - December 2008, check pilot and assistant flight commander, 37th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. December 2008 - December 2009, student, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. December 2009 - January 2011, executive officer, 22nd Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
5. January 2011 - December 2012, assistant chief of weapons and flight commander, 480th Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
6. December 2012 - June 2014, flight commander and chief of standardization/evaluation and safety, 309th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
7. June 2014 - November 2014, Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses Weapons, 56th Training Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
8. November 2014 - July 2015, executive officer, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz.
9. July 2015 - June 2016, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2016 - September 2017, student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. September 2017 - May 2018, Director of Operations, 18th Aggressor Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
12. May 2018 - June 20, Commander, 353rd Combat Training Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
13. June 21 - June 21, student, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, DC
14. June 21 – Jun 23, staff action officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate (J- 5), Pentagon, DC
15. Jun 23 – May 24, Chief, Future Operations Division (A35), 9th Air Force (AFCENT), AUAB, Qatar.
16. Aug 24 – Present, Commander, 12th Operations Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2900
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-6A, T-38C, F-16C/D
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Action Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2003
First Lieutenant May 28, 2005
Captain May 28, 2007
Major May 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 1, 2017
Colonel May 1, 2023
(Current as of Aug 2024)