Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield is the Deputy Commander, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. He is responsible for the daily operations of the command, consisting of approximately 70,000 Reserve Airmen and more than 300 aircraft among three numbered Air Forces, 34 flying wings, 10 flying groups, a space wing, a cyber wing and an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance wing. The AFRC supports the Air Force mission to defend the United States through control and exploitation of air, space and cyberspace by supporting global engagement. AFRC plays an integral role in the day-to-day Air Force.
The general is a Distinguished Naval Graduate from The Citadel where he received his commission as a Naval officer in 1992. Serving in the United States Navy for nearly 11 years, he had various U.S. and overseas assignments.
Maj. Gen. Bradfield transitioned to the United States Air Force Reserve as a traditional reservist in 2003 where he became an A-10 fighter pilot. He became an air reserve technician in 2005. Prior to his current assignment, Maj. Gen. Bradfield served as the Director, Air Force Reserve Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
1994 Mine Countermeasures Planning and Operations, Fleet and Mine Warfare Training Center, Charleston, S.C.
1995 Division Officer’s Navy Leadership Course, San Diego, Calif.
1998 Search and Rescue Officer’s Course, Marine Corps, Air Station Iwakuni, Japan
2002 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Leadership Today and Tomorrow, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Joint Air and Space Operations Senior Staff Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2013 Operational Support/Strategy and War, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2014 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2015 NATO Senior Reserve Officers Course, NATO School Oberammergau, Germany
2016 NATO Senior Officer Policy Course, NATO School Oberammergau, Germany
2018 U.S. Air Force Senior Leaders’ Mission Generation Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2019 Agency Financial Report Senior Leader Orientation Training, Washington, D.C.
2019-2020 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Fellowship, Washington, D.C.
2020 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2022 Senior Executives in National and International Security, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2023 Negotiation Strategies: Building Agreement Across Boundaries, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2023 Senior Managers in Government, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2023 Executive Certificate in Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1992–December 1992, Assistant Naval Science Instructor, Tulane University, New Orleans, La.
2. December 1992–February 1995, Student Naval Aviator, Pilot Training at VT-3 and HT-18, Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla.
3. March 1995–March 1996, H-46D Student Pilot HC-3, NAS North Island, Coronado, Calif.
4. March 1996–March 1999, H-46D Pilot HC-5, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam
5. April 1999–April 2002, T-34C Instructor Pilot; Flight Commander; Scheduler; VT-6, NAS Whiting Field, Fla.
6. April 2002–February 2003, Flag Aide, Vice Chief of Naval Education and Training, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
7. February 2003–September 2003, T-38 Fixed Wing Qualification Course, 25th Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
8. October 2003–December 2003, Intro to Fundamentals of Fighters, 49th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
9. January 2004–July 2004, A-10 Initial Qualification, 47th Fighter Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
10. June 2004–June 2006, A-10 Pilot, Chief of Training, 706th Fighter Squadron, NAS Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, La.
11. June 2006–October 2009, A-10 Pilot, Chief of Plans, 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
12. October 2009–December 2013, U-28 Instructor Pilot; Operations Officer, 5th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
13. December 2013–July 2015, Branch Chief Current Operations, A3OO, headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
14. July 2015–July 2017, Commander, 439th Operations Group, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.
15. August 2017–August 2019, Commander, 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Fla.
16. August 2019–April 2021, Military Deputy Director, Strategy, Posture and Assessments, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. April 2021–December 2022, Deputy Director Western Hemisphere, Strategy, Plans and Policy (J5), Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. January 2023–April 2024, Director, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. May 2024–present, Deputy Commander, AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2021–December 2022, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs (Western Hemisphere), Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Chiefs of Staff, as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Total Flight hours: more than 4,500 including over 500 combat hours
Aircraft flown: C-208, C-5A/B/M, U-28A, PC-12, A-10A, T-38A/C, T-34C, H-46D and TH-57B/C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Navy Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Ensign May 27, 1992 (USN)
Lieutenant Junior Grade May 27, 1994
Lieutenant June 1, 1996
Lieutenant Commander July 1, 2002
Major Feb. 2, 2003 (USAF)
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2009
Colonel May 8, 2015
Brigadier General April 16, 2021
Major General April 19, 2024
(Current as of May 2024)