Col. Christian ‘Bandit’ Bergtholdt is the commander, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The fighter wing’s mission is to project unrivaled combat airpower for America. The wing is currently transitioning to the F-35A Lightning II aircraft and upon completion, will become the Air Force’s newest operational fighter wing with three F-35A squadrons tasked to maintain combat readiness in support of national defense.
As the installation commander, Col. Bergtholdt supports the 23,000 Airmen, civilians, contractors and families who call Tyndall AFB home. The 325th FW hosts 19 tenant units from multiple major commands and across several military mission sets. These supported mission partners include First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), the 601st Air Operations Center, the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, the 337th Air Control Squadron and Silver Flag.
Colonel Bergtholdt received his Bachelor’s degree and commission from the United States Air Force Academy in May 2000. He was a distinguished graduate of Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas in 2002 and graduated from the F-15C Formal Training Unit at Tyndall AFB, Florida in 2003. He has held a variety of flying positions to include F-15C and F-22 instructor pilot and flight examiner, and has held positions at the squadron, group, and wing levels. Colonel Bergtholdt has deployed to Afghanistan and Southwest Asia in support of theater security and combat operations. He also served as United States Central Command’s lead planner for Syria during Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Prior to his current assignment, he was commander of the 325th Operations Group, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science in Human Factors Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2000 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., Correspondence
2012 Master of Business Administration, American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va.
2014 Master of National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
2014 Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., Correspondence
2021 National Defense Fellow, Congressional Research Service, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000 - March 2001, Executive Officer, 99 RS, Beale AFB, CA
2. March 2001 - May 2002, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. April 2003 - November 2003, Student, F-15C Formal Training Unit, 1 FS, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. December 2003 - March 2007, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Chief of Stan/Eval, 12 FS, Elmendorf AFB Alaska
5. June 2007 - May 2010, Assistant Director of Operations, 94 FS, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
6. May 2010 - March 2011, Assistant Director of Operations, 8 FS, Holloman AFB, N.M.
7. December 2012 - June 2013, Director of Operations, 7 FS, Holloman AFB, N.M.
8. August 2013 - September 2014, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
9. September 2014 - July 2016, Strategic Planner, US Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
10. August 2016 - December 2017, Director of Operations, 27 FS, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
11. March 2018 - March 2020, Commander, 1st Operations Support Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
12. April 2020 - June 2020, Deputy Commander, 1st Operations Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
13. July 2020 - August 2021, National Defense Fellow, Congressional Research Service, Washington, D.C.
14. August 2021 - June 2022, Chief, Combat Air Forces Division, Directorate of Operations and Readiness, Headquarters Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. June 2022 - June 2024, Commander, 325th Operations Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
16. July 2024 - Present, Commander, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2014 – July 2016, Strategic War Planner, US Central Command J5, MacDill AFB, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: Over 2,500, with more than 220 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38C, T-38A, F-15C, F-22A, F-35A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with five oak leaf clusters
NATO Medal
(Current as of July 2024)