Colonel Tellez to Succeed Brigadier General Marks as Commandant, Reinforcing Warfighter Focus at the Academy

Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks, left, and Col. Brandon J. Tellez, right. Tellez has been assigned as the U.S. Air Force Academy’s 32nd commandant of cadets, succeeding Marks. (U.S. Air Force photos).

U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – In preparation for a change of command ceremony next month, Col. Brandon J. Tellez, Class of ’01, has been assigned as the Academy’s 32nd Commandant of Cadets, succeeding Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks, who will retire this summer after a distinguished Air Force career.

Col. Tellez is currently serving as Senior Executive Officer to the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, where he advises and assists the Vice Chief in the administration of the Air Staff, which develops policies, plans and programs for the service, and the organization, training, and equipping of 689,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces.

Commandant of cadets Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks participates in the Cadet Wing Change of Command ceremony on the Terrazzo at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., Jan. 3, 2026. As commandant, Marks oversees cadets’ military training and leadership development, as well as the execution of military education and training programs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)

Elevating Warfighting Readiness

Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks has served as Commandant of Cadets since June 2023, leading the Cadet Wing with a sharpened focus on meeting the warfighting demands of an evolving global security environment. His leadership emphasized a culture of discipline, accountability, and adherence to world-class standards across all aspects of military training, leadership, and character development. He recently announced plans to retire from the Air Force following a successful three-year tour in the position, concluding a distinguished career that began with his commissioning from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1996.

During his tenure, Marks emphasized the Academy’s responsibility to prepare officers to lead on day one post commissioning and aligning cadet training with the operational demands faced by today’s Air Force and Space Force. Typically, commandants serve two or three years in the role, and Marks is concluding his tour having made significant contributions to the Academy’s mission. He leaves a legacy characterized by a relentless focus on warfighting readiness, elevated standards, and empowering cadets to lead.

“Brigadier General Marks has been an exceptional Commandant of Cadets,” said U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind. “He kept the Academy on a clear course as we reoriented deliberately toward warfighting, elevating standards, expanding training and ensuring our graduates are ready to lead on Day One. I am grateful for his leadership and proud of the transformation he led across the Cadet Wing.”

Commandant of cadets Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks addresses basic cadets from the Class of 2029 and cadet cadre on their first day at Jacks Valley at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., July 13, 2025. During the two-week Jacks Valley phase of Basic Cadet Training, basic cadets complete intensive physical training to build resilience, teamwork and confidence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jonathan Suni)

Together with the Cadet Wing, Marks deepened cadets’ warfighting capabilities by expanding year-round, adversary-focused training. The Wing executed exercises aligned with Ready Airman Training and Agile Combat Employment concepts, emphasizing skills crucial for contested conditions: weapons proficiency, small-unit tactics, casualty care, and navigation. He also drove significant updates to Basic Cadet Training by integrating expeditionary skills and realistic tactical scenarios.

To reinforce a culture of ownership, Marks introduced the Cadet Warfighter Instructor Course, which empowered upper-class cadets to lead, plan, and evaluate training exercises. He also reorganized the cadet squadrons to prioritize leadership development over functional expertise. This strategic shift was anchored by the transformation of the Academy’s “fourth-class system” into a tiered and increasing responsibility four-class leadership development system, integrating leadership education throughout all four years of a cadet’s career.

Notably, the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School was aligned under the Cadet Wing during his tenure, enhancing integration and development pathways for future cadets. The Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development was also realigned under the Cadet Wing, a move that aligns the CCLD’s responsibility within the Commandant’s primary responsibility of cadet leadership development.

Marks expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Cadet Wing.

“Serving as Commandant of Cadets has truly been the professional honor of my lifetime,” Marks said. “Our cadets have embraced higher standards, harder training, and a clearer understanding of what it means to enter the Profession of Arms. They are more ready, more lethal, and more grounded in our core values, and I am confident they will continue to thrive under Colonel Tellez’s leadership.”

Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks, commandant of cadets, salutes with a member of the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2025 at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 29, 2025. Nine hundred and nine cadets received commissions as second lieutenants in the Air Force or Space Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith)

A Legacy of Service

Marks’ career has been characterized by a consistent dedication to developing the next generation of air and space leaders and ensuring the operational readiness of the force.

A command pilot with over 3,400 flying hours in aircraft such as the T-1A, E-3B/C, and multiple RC-135 variants, his leadership has been tested and proven at all levels. After earning his pilot wings, he served as an instructor pilot and flight examiner before taking command of the 99th Flying Training Squadron at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and, later, the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. His expertise extended to the highest levels of the Pentagon, where he held key staff positions as Director of the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Executive Action Group and as Director of Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority. His experience in the joint environment includes roles as an observer and trainer at U.S. Joint Forces Command and as an operations planner on the Joint Staff.

Marks holds an advanced degree from and is a distinguished graduate of the National War College and holds a second Master of Science degree from George Washington University.

Col. Brandon Tellez, outgoing commander of the 1st Fighter Wing, thanks members in attendance during the 1st Fighter Wing change of command ceremony at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, June 6, 2025. The ceremony brought Airmen, families, and distinguished guests to witness the formal transfer of authority, responsibility, and accountability of the Wing, which boasts a proud heritage dating back to 1918. Known as “America’s First Team,” the 1st Fighter Wing was the first wing to fly the F-22 Raptor operationally and continues to lead the way in air superiority missions today. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin)
An F-22 Raptor, flown by the 1st Fighter Wing F-22 Demonstration Team, performs a high-angle-of-attack maneuver during the Air Power over Hampton Roads air show at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, April 26, 2025. The demonstration highlighted the Raptor’s superior maneuverability and air dominance capabilities in front of thousands of spectators. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Adisen Smith)
Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. – U.S. Air Force Col. Brandon Tellez, 1st Operations Group commander, inspects the 71st Fighter Squadron guide-on during the unit’s reactivation at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Jan 6, 2023. The 71st FS was originally formed in 1940 and has been an integral part throughout many Air Force operations, including Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olivia Bithell)

A Proven Leader to Continue the Mission

Col. Brandon J. Tellez’s selection will place a proven leader with extensive operational and strategic experience in charge of the 4,300-member Cadet Wing.

“I offer my congratulations to Colonel Brandon Tellez on his selection,” said Lt. Gen. Bauernfeind. “As a combat-tested leader who understands the demands of current and future military operations, he is exceptionally well-qualified to ensure our cadets embody a warfighter mindset and are prepared to lead Airmen and Guardians on Day One.”

A 2001 graduate of the Academy, Tellez received his commission before earning his wings through Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He began his operational career flying the F-15C at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, later transitioning to the F-22A Raptor. Over four flying tours and multiple deployments worldwide, he has led at the squadron and wing levels, culminating in command of the 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

Tellez is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and a command pilot with approximately 2,500 flight hours, including about 300 combat hours in the T-38, F-15C/D and F-22A. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business and a master’s degree in National Security Resourcing Strategy from the Eisenhower School, National Defense University.