Brig. Gen. Aaron D. Drake is the Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché to Moscow, Russia. In this position, Brig. Gen. Drake provides military advice and counsel to the Ambassador, Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and European Command Commander. Brig. Gen. Drake is also responsible for developing and maintaining relationships and communication with the Russian Ministry of Defense and Russian General Staff.
Brig. Gen. Drake is a native of Dayton, Ohio and commissioned from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has commanded at the flight, squadron, group and wing level, and deployed numerous times supporting Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. Brig. Gen. Drake also served in diverse operational and staff leadership positions in Cyber Command, Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Special Operations Command.
Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Drake served as Commander of the National Security Agency-Texas where he commanded a center of over 4,000 personnel from five services and multiple defense agencies supporting seven combatant commands, interagency partners and national decision makers.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Middle Eastern Area Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1999 Master of Science, Information Systems, Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, Hawaii
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Master of Strategic Intelligence, Joint Military Intel College, Defense Intelligence Agency, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
2017 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2021 Senior Executives in National and International Security, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1996–December 1999, Chief, Electric Systems Security Assessment Center, Pacific, 692nd Intelligence Support Squadron, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
2. December 1999–December 2000, Psychological Operations and Special Technical Operations Planner, 7th Air Force Information Warfare Flight, Osan Air Base, South Korea
3. January 2001–March 2002, Chief, Weapons and Tactics, 16th Air Command and Control Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
4. March 2002–February 2003, Flight Commander, 330th Combat Training Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
5. March 2003–July 2006, Assistant Director of Operations, 19th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. July 2006–July 2007, Student, National Intelligence University, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
7. August 2007–August 2008, Director of Operations, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division, Combined Air Operations Center, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
8. August 2008–August 2010, Director of Operations, 11th Intelligence Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
9. August 2010–June 2011, Deputy Director, Standardization and Evaluation Division, Air Force ISR Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas
10. June 2011–June 2013, Commander, 19th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
11. June 2013–June 2014, Student, Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
12. June 2014–July 2015, Chief, Global Cyber Operations Plans, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
13. June 2015–July 2016, Executive Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
14. July 2016–July 2018, Commander, 659th ISR Group, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
15. July 2018–July 2019, Director, Intelligence for Air Forces Central Command, Shaw AFB, S.C.
16. July 2019–August 2021, Commander, National Security Agency, San Antonio, Texas
17. August 2021–August 2022, Special Assistant to the Commander, 16th Air Force, San Antonio, Texas
18. September 2022–present, Senior Defense Official, Defense Attaché Office, Moscow, Russia
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: non-rated flight officer
Flight hours: 949
Aircraft: E-8C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal with device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Distinguished Graduate, Intelligence Officer School 1996
Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School 1999
Initial Cadre, Intelligence Sensor Weapons Instructor Course
(Current as of August 2023)