Colonel Tyler Niebuhr is the Commander, 325th Operations Group, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The group’s mission is to project unrivaled combat airpower for America and has established the roots of its new F-35 mission on the way to standing up three combat-ready squadrons. The group also operates Tyndall AFB’s airfield, controls 4,500 sq/mi of airspace, and executes Exercise CHECKERED FLAG on behalf of the Commander, Air Combat Command.
Colonel Niebuhr entered the Air Force in May 2001 through ROTC as a distinguished graduate from Weber State University with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics. He graduated Euro-NATO joint jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, TX in 2003 and completed F-16 Basic Operational Training Course as a distinguished graduate in March 2004. He has held a variety of flying positions to include F-16 instructor pilot, FAC(A) Instructor, and flight examiner. He previously commanded the 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV. Prior to his current position, he was the Combat Air branch head at the Joint Air Power Competence Centre.
Colonel Niebuhr’s operational experience includes Operations NOBLE EAGLE, ODESSEY DAWN, ENDURING FREEDOM, RESOLUTE SUPPORT and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL. He is a Command Pilot with over 3,300 flight hours, including over 190 combat sorties and more than 760 combat hours in the F-16.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Applied Physics, Weber State University, UT
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.
2012 Master of Human Relations, University of Oklahoma, OK
2012 Master of Arts, International Relations, University of Oklahoma, OK
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL by correspondence
2022 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2001 - February 2002, casual status, awaiting pilot training, Hill Air Force Base, Utah
2. February 2002 - April 2003, student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. April 2003 - June 2003, student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody AFB, Ga.
4. July 2003 - May 2004, student, F-16 Flying Training Unit, 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. May 2004 - November 2006, Chief of Scheduling, 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. December 2006 - December 2009, Instructor Pilot and Evaluator, Flight Commander, 36th Fighter Squadron; Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.
7. January 2009 – June 2013, Instructor Pilot and Evaluator, Assistant Director of Operations, 555th Fighter Squadron, then Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, 31st Operations Group, Aviano AB, Italy.
(April 2011 – October 2011, Assistant Director of Operations, 555th Fighter Squadron, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
8. June 2013 – August 2016, Wing Director of Staff, 388th Fighter Wing, then Director of Operations, 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
(October 2015 – May 2016, Director of Operations, 421st Fighter Squadron, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
9. August 2016 – March 2018 Deputy Commander, 57th Operations Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. March 2018 – July 2019, Commander, 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
11. July 2019 – July 2021, Deputy Commander, 56th Operations Group, Luke AFB, Nev.
12. July 2021 – July 2022, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. July 2022 –June 2024, Combat Air Branch Head, Joint Air Power Competence Centre, Kalkar, Germany
14. June 2024 – Present, Commander, 325th Operations Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2022 – Current, Combat Air Branch Head, Joint Air Power Competence Centre, Germany, as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 3607
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38A, T-38C, F-16, F-35A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
NATO Medal