Biography

Colonel WILLIAM D. JIMENEZ

Colonel William David Jimenez is the Commander of the 726th Operations Group, Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. The 726th Operations Group oversees AFRC members assigned to the 432d Wing/Air Expeditionary Wing, the 49th Wing, and the 319th Reconnaissance Wing, supporting training and combat missions involving the MQ-9, RQ-4, and RQ-170 Remotely Piloted Aircraft.

Colonel Jimenez is a graduate of New Mexico State University, Class of 2000. He earned his pilot wings from Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, Texas. His first operational assignment was at McConnell AFB, Kansas flying the KC-135 with the 384th Air Refueling Squadron. During this assignment Col Jimenez upgraded to Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot, and deployed eight times in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. In 2007, Col Jimenez was assigned to Nellis AFB, Nevada to fly the MQ-1 Predator with the 3d Special Operations Squadron (SOS). In 2008, he re-located along with the 3d SOS to Cannon AFB, New Mexico. In 2010, Col Jimenez transferred to the 33d SOS to fly the MQ-9 Reaper. During these assignments, he upgraded to Instructor Pilot and Evaluator Pilot, and served as a Flight Commander, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, and Assistant Director of Operations. He also deployed twice to the Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Area of Responsibility as a Liaison Officer to a Joint Task Force. In 2012, Col Jimenez was assigned to the Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas, where he served as the Chief of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Assignments. He then moved to Edwards AFB, California in 2014 to join the 53d Test and Evaluation Group, Detachment 1 as an Assistant Director of Operations and Director of Operations. In 2017, he joined the Air Force Reserve to serve as an MQ-9 Instructor Pilot and Director of Operations of the 429th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico. He is a Command Pilot with over 4,000 hours.

Prior to his current position, Col Jimenez was the Commander, 429th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico.

EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Business Administration (Economics), New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 US Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master of Military Arts and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2001-August 2001, STAN/EVAL Liaison Officer, 49th Operations Group, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
2. August 2001-September 2002, Undergraduate Pilot Training Student, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. September 2002-March 2003, KC-135 Initial Qualification Training, Altus AFB, Okla.
4. March 2003-January 2007, KC-135 Pilot/Instructor Pilot, 384th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
5. January 2007-August 2008, MQ-1 Pilot, 3d Special Operations Squadron (SOS), Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. August 2008-April 2010, MQ-1 Instructor Pilot, 3 SOS, Cannon AFB, N.M.
7. April 2010-August 2012, MQ-9 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 33 SOS, Cannon AFB, N.M.
8. August 2012-August 2014, RPA Assignments Officer, AFPC, Randolph AFB, Texas
9. August 2014-September 2017, ADO/DO, 53d Test and Evaluation Group, Det 1, Edwards AFB, Calif.
10. September 2017-November 2017, MQ-9 Instructor Pilot, 429th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
11. November 2017-October 2019, Director of Operations, 429th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
12. October 2019-August 2021, Commander, 429th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
13. August 2021-Present, Commander, 726th Operations Group, Creech AFB, Nev.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,000 hours including more than 850 combat hours
Aircraft flown: KC-135R, MQ-1, and MQ-9

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 devices
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with 14 devices
Joint Service Commendation Medal with 1 device
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with 4 devices
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and 3 devices

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2009 Distinguished Graduate, USAF Weapons School
2011 MQ-9 Pilot of the Year, 33rd Special Operations Squadron
2015 Field Grade Officer of the Year, Detachment 1, 53rd Test and Evaluation Group

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jan. 14, 2001
First Lieutenant Jan. 14, 2003
Captain Jan. 14, 2005
Major Nov. 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Mar. 1, 2016
Colonel Aug. 8, 2021

(Current as of November 2021)