Lieutenant Colonel Austin Bartlett is the Commander, 34th Training Support Squadron, U.S. Air Force Academy. As Commander, he is responsible for leading the cadet wing’s premier training support organization charged with shaping, synchronizing, and sustaining the training ecosystem that develops more than four-thousand cadets into officers of character and future warfighters. He directs a diverse portfolio worth over $40M that spans curriculum integration, range and training operations, records and readiness management, and the mentorship and oversight of administratively held cadets ensuring the Academy’s training enterprise is disciplined, data driven, and aligned with the demands of the modern Air Force.

Lt. Col. Bartlett is a 2009 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He began his career as a Combat Systems Officer after completing training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He served as an Instructor Navigator in the KC-135R before cross-training as a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Pilot, flying the MQ-9A. Qualified as an Air Advisor, Lt. Col. Bartlett has extensive combat experience across multiple operations, including IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and SPARTAN SHIELD. He has accumulated over 600 combat flight hours and 1,100 combat support flight hours. Prior to his current assignment, he served the U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Wing Chief of Standardization and Evaluation.

Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence (2023)

Masters in Operational Studies, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. (2022)

Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence (2019)

Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (2015)

Master of Arts, Management and Leadership, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo. (2014)

Bachelor of Science: Humanities, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2009)

Commander, 34th Training Support Squadron, United States Air Force Academy, Colo. (February 2026-Present)

Chief, Cadet Wing Standardization and Evaluation, United States Air Force Academy, Colo. (July 2025-February 2026)

Deputy for Management, Penetrating & Persistent Multi-Role RPA Operations Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C. (June 2024-July 2025)

Chief, RPA Training and Manpower Branch, Penetrating & Persistent Multi-Role Operations Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C. (April 2024 – October 2024, Senior Duty Officer, Air Defense Liaison Team, Tel Aviv, Israel) (August 2022-June 2024)

Student, US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. (May 2021-August 2022)

Executive Officer, Directorate of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas (May 2019-May 2021)

Basic Sensor Operator Course Director, URT Instructor Pilot, 558th Flying Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas (July 2018-May 2019)

Group Executive Officer, Flight Commander, and Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 17th Attack Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev. (December 2014-July 2018)

Student, MQ-9 Training Transition Course B, Holloman AFB, N.M. (March 2014-December 2014)

Student, Undergraduate RPA Pilot Training, JBSA-Randolph, Texas (September 2013-March 2014)

Instructor Navigator, Chief of Mobility, and Standardization and Evaluations Liaison Officer, 344th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan. (September 2010-March 2013)

Student, Undergraduate Combat Systems Officer Training, Randolph AFB, Texas (July 2009-September 2010)

Flight Information

Rating: Senior RPA Pilot

Flight Hours: more than 2,200

Aircraft Flown: DA-20, T-43, T-1, KC-135R/T, MQ-9A

Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Aerial Achievement Medal with seven oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster