Colonel Robert B. Blake is the commander, 325th Maintenance Group, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. With a career spanning over three decades, he expertly directs aircraft maintenance operations, ensuring mission readiness and operational excellence. Colonel Blake is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping personnel in all facets of maintenance and sortie generation. His leadership extends to managing quality assurance, budget, and maintenance activities, encompassing operational and disabled aircraft, ground equipment, and structural repair. His strategic oversight and dedication to duty exemplify the highest standards of Air Force maintenance operations.
Col Blake was born March 11, 1971 in Barranquilla, Colombia. He graduated high school and enlisted in the Air Force in 1990. After spending eight years as a Tactical Aircraft Technician and completing his bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, he applied and was accepted for Officer Training School (OTS). He graduated OTS in November of 1998 and was commission to the rank of Second Lieutenant. Colonel Blake is married to the former Angela Martin of Lafayette, Louisiana. They have three children: Benjamin, Victoria, and Nicholas.
Col Blake has commanded at the Group and Squadron level and served in a variety of maintenance positions at Group, NAF, MAJCOM, Combatant Commands, and Headquarters Air Force. He has deployed in support of numerous operations such as OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT, SOUTHERN WATCH, DENY FLIGHT, NORTHERN WATCH, ODYSSEY DAWN, and IRAQI/ENDURING FREEDOM.
EDUCATION:
1996 Associate in Applied Science, Aviation Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, AL
1998 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
2003 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 Master of Science in Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
2006 South Asia Regional Intensive Seminar, George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center, Arlington, VA
2006 Security, Stability, Transition & Reconstruction Course, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, HI
2008 Air Command Staff College by correspondence
2016 Air War College by correspondence
2021 Dual Status Commander & Joint Task Force Commander Course, NORAD & USNORTHCOM, Fort Carson, CO
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. 1990 - 1998, Crew Chief (F-15A/B/C/D/E) 555/461/492/391 FS’s, Luke/Mountain Home/RAF Lakenheath
2. 1999 - 2001, Flight Commander 437th Aircraft Generation Squadron, Charleston AFB, South Carolina
3. 2001 - 2003, Pacific Region Exercise Plans Officer, 13th Air Force/A53, Andersen AFB, Guam
4. 2003 - 2004, 44 AMU/961 AMU OIC, 18 AMXS, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan
5. 2004 - 2006, Maintenance Operations Officer, 718 AMXS, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan
6. 2006 - 2007, South Asia & Logistics Theater Security Cooperation Strategist, HQ PACAF/A5A8, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
7. 2007 - 2008, Executive Officer Directorate of Strategic Plans, Programs, & International Affairs, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
8. 2008 - 2009, Chief Fighter Weapons Section, HQ PACAF/A4, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
9. 2009 - 2012, Commander 31st Maintenance Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
10. 2012 - 2014, Commander 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan
11. 2014 - 2017, Chief Tanker & Strategic Airlift/Mx Policy Division Chief, Maintenance Policy, Pentagon, Washington, DC
12. 2017 – 2019, Deputy Group Commander 721 Air Mobility Operations Group, Ramstein AB, Germany
13. 2019 – 2020, Deputy Inspector General, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
14. 2020 – 2022, Commander, 15th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
15. 2020 – 2024, Commander, 86th Maintenance Group, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
16. 2024 – Present, Commander, 325th Maintenance Group, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit (one oak leaf cluster)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (4 oak leaf clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal (4 oak leaf clusters)
Air and Space Achievement Medal (1 oak leaf cluster)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award (2 oak leaf cluster)
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device (12 oak leaf clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (service star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal (service star)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air & Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal (1 oak leaf cluster)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (service star)
NATO Medal (service star)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1990 3760th Technical Training Group Honor Graduate
1992 Promotion to Senior Airmen Below the Zone
1994 492nd Fighter Squadron Airman and Maintainer of the Year
1996 391st Fighter Squadron and 36th Operations Group Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
1996 366th Wing Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2001 437th Aircraft Generation Squadron Lance P. Sijan Company Grade Officer of the Year
2005 18th Maintenance Group Maintenance Professional of the Year
2010 31st Maintenance Group Lance P. Sijan Field Grade Officer of the Year
2011 31st Maintenance Group Leo Marquez Field Grade Officer of the Year
2012 31st Maintenance Group Lance P. Sijan Field Grade Officer of the Year
2015 HAF/A4LM Field Grade Officer of the Year
FOREIGN LANGUAGE ABILITY:
Fluent in Spanish 3/2+, Native speaker
(Current as of 7 Aug 2024)