Col. Ross R. Anderson is the Commander, 926th Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, part of 10th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command. He is responsible for AFRC command authority and Total Force mission execution of more than 1,400 unit reservists integrated throughout the United States Air Force Warfare Center and its subordinate wings, the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California, and the 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The mission of the 926th Wing is to provide elite mission-ready Reserve Airmen through Total Force Integration across air, space and cyberspace.
Colonel Anderson entered the Air Force in 1989 after earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University, and commissioning as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He has served for more than 26 years in a variety of flying, staff and command assignments, and has commanded at the flight, group and wing level. He has flown a wide variety of military and civilian aircraft, and is a command pilot with more than 5,500 hours. He joined Air Force Reserve Command in January 1999, and has combat experience in Operations NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM and FREEDOM SENTINEL.
Prior to his current assignment he served as the U.S. European Command’s Deputy Director for Exercises and Assessments, as well as the Air Force Reserve Advisor to the Commander.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science degree, Oregon State University, Corvallis
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of Arts degree in International Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman
2016 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1990 - June 1991, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. June 1991 - May 1995, T-37 Instructor Pilot/Pilot Instructor Trainer/Flight Examiner, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. May 1995 - October 1995, F-16 student, 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. October 1995 - January 1999, F-16 Instructor Pilot, 78th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
5. January 1999 - March 2005, F-16 Operations Officer, 302nd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
6. March 2005 - April 2006, Commander, 944th Operations Support Flight Commander, Luke AFB, Ariz.
7. April 2006 - January 2007, Deputy Commander, 944th Operations Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
8. January 2007 - July 2009, Deputy Commander, 301st Operations Group, Naval Air Station Fort Worth JRB, Texas
9. July 2009 - July 2011, Commander, 482nd Operations Group, Homestead ARB, Fla.
10. July 2011 - July 2014, Deputy Director, Exercises and Assessments, and Air Force Reserve Advisor to the Commander, Headquarters United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany
11. July 2014 - present, Commander, 926th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNEMENTS
July 2011 - July 2014, Deputy Director, Exercises and Assessments, and Air Force Reserve Advisor to the Commander, Headquarters United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot and Federal Aviation Administration Certified Flight Instructor
Flight hours: more than 5,500; more than 3,700 in the F-16 and MQ-9
Combat time: 410 hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16, MQ-9 and numerous civilian aircraft
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and five oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Oct. 17, 1989
First Lieutenant Oct. 17, 1991
Captain Oct. 17, 1993
Major May 1, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 18, 2005
Colonel Feb. 2, 2010
(Current as of January 2017)