LIEUTENANT COLONEL CRAIG THEISEN, U.S.

AIR FORCE (Retired)

Lieutenant Colonel Craig Theisen
served most recently as Chief,
Western Europe and NATO
Exercises for United States
European Command.
Lt Col Theisen was commissioned
1992 through the ROTC program
the University of Washington.
Following graduation, he served in
variety of operational assignments,
initially as a EF-111 fighter pilot
flight lead and subsequently as a
10 instructor pilot. Colonel
Theisen commanded at the
squadron level, and has flown in
multiple combat operations in
Southwest Asia and Afghanistan.

in
at
a
and
KC-

Colonel Theisen has held a variety

of
staff assignments, to include U.S.
European Command, 15th
Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, Aeronautical Systems Center, Congressional liaison for
the B-2 Bomber Acquisition Program, U.S. mobility representative to Kandahar Airfield,
ISAF Airfield Management team lead for OIF/OEF, and Strategy Chief and Airlift Planner for
Operation Unified Assistance relief effort following the tsunami of 2004. Prior to his final
assignment Lt Col Theisen was Commander of a highly deployable squadron, fielding alert
forces with 12-hour response worldwide to open or augment airfield operations. In this
role Lt Col Theisen led numerous teams throughout Iraq and Afghanistan, evaluating
airfield operations, equipment and surfaces in preparation for surge operations. Colonel
Theisen is a senior pilot in widely different airframes who has flown 1,900 hours, over
1,000 of which were in combat.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelors Degree in Sociology (with distinction), University of Washington
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2003 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence)
2004 Master's degree in transportation management/air mobility, USAF Air Mobility
Warfare Center and Air Force Institute of Technology, Fort Dix, N.J.
2008 Air War College (correspondence)
2010 Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA.
2015 (projected) Masters Degree in Social Work, Columbia University, New York

ASSIGNMENTS
1993-1994 Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, OK
1994-1998 Fighter pilot and flight lead, EF-111A, Cannon Air Force Base, NM
1998-1999 Congressional & HQ Liaison, B-2 Bomber, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
1999-2000 Commanders Action Group, Aeronautical Systems Center, WPAFB, OH
2000-2001 Pilot, instructor pilot and flight lead, KC-10A, McGuire AFB, NJ
2001-2003 Flight Commander and Chief of Safety, 2d Aerial Refueling Squadron
2003-2004 Student, Advanced Study in Air Mobility, Fort Dix, NJ
2004-2005 Tanker and airlift planner, Air Mobility Operations Sq, Travis AFB, CA
2005-2006 Operations Flight Commander, Air Mob Ops Sq, Travis AFB, CA
2006-2007 Operations Officer, 572 Global Mobility Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
2007-2008 Executive Officer to the Commander, 15th EMTF, Travis AFB, CA
2008-2010 Commander, 570 Global Mobility Readiness Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
2010-2013 Chief, Western Europe and NATO Joint/Combined, Exercises, USEUCOM,
Stuttgart, Germany
CERTIFICATIONS/QUALIFICATIONS
CAOC Initial Qualification (Tanker Planner), Distinguished Graduate, 2005
Duty Position Qualified CAOC Airlift Planner, Tsunami Relief, 2005
JTF-PO Operations Officer, 2008
JTF-PO Airfield Assessment Team Lead, 2008
Joint Qualified - EUCOM J3 staff and JPME II (Commandants Award), 2010-2013
TS-SCI Clearance Date 27 October 2011
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior pilot
Flight hours: Approximately 1,900, including 1,000 combat hours
Aircraft flown: AT-38B, F-111E, EF-111A, T-38A, KC-10A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with seven oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Dec. 6, 1992
First Lieutenant Dec. 6, 1994
Captain Dec. 6, 1996
Major May 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2008