Brig Gen Tony D. Bauernfeind is currently serving as the Commanding General, Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR). He also serves as Commander of United Nations Command Special Operations Component (UNCSOC), Commander, U.S. Special Operations Joint Task Force (SOJTF) and Deputy Commander, Combined Special Operations Component Command-Korea (CSOCC-K). Serving on the Korean peninsula, Brig Gen Bauernfeind works daily with his Republic of Korea and United Nations Sending State partners to enhance combined and multinational Special Operations capability, interoperability and networks. Combined SOF are an enabling component to maintaining the Armistice and strengthening the U.S.- ROK Alliance and are ready to deter and defeat all threats to the Korean peninsula and ensure regional stability.
Brig Gen Bauernfeind earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1991. Earning his wings in 1992, he has flown more than 3,500 hours in the MC-130E, MC-130H and MQ-9 aircraft. Brig Gen Bauernfeind has commanded special operations forces in both garrison and combat at the squadron, group and wing levels.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2000 Masters of Business Administration, Auburn University,
Ala.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Masters of Military Operational Art and Science, Maxwell AFB,
Ala.
2005 Master of Airpower Art and Science, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB,
Ala.
2006 Air War College, by correspondence
2009 Military Fellow, RAND Corporation (Senior Developmental Education), Santa Monica, Calif.
2010 Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2010 Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2013 Combined Forces Special Operation Component Commander Course, MacDill AFB, Fla
ASSIGNMENTS
July 1991 – August 1992, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
September 1992 – July 1993, C-130 and MC-130E Combat Talon Initial Mission Qualification, Little Rock AFB, AR and Hurlburt Field, Fla.
July 1993 – January 1997, MC-130E Aircraft Commander and MC-130H Instructor Pilot, 1st Special Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
January 1997 – January 1998, MC-130H Instructor Pilot, 550th Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
January – August 1998, Student F-15 Pilot, 2nd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
August 1998 – September 2001, MC-130H Instructor Pilot, Stan/Eval Pilot and Assistant Director of Operations, 15th Special Operations Squadron and Wing Executive Officer, 16th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
September 2001 – June 2003, Chief, SOF/CSAR Branch, Global Mobility/Special Ops Capability Requirements Division, Directorate of Operational Capability Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
July 2003 – July 2004, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB,
Ala.
July 2004 – June 2005, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB,
Ala.
June – October 2005, Chief Special Warfare Division, HQ United States Air Force Doctrine Center, Maxwell AFB,
Ala.
November 2005 – January 2006, MC-130H Requalification Training, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
January 2006 – May 2008, Operations Officer & Commander, 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
June 2008 – June 2009, Military Fellow, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif.
June 2009 – June 2011, Director of Staff and Special Assistant to the Director, DARPA, Arlington, Va.
June 2011 – June 2013, Commander, 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
July 2013 – Feb 2015, Commander, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon AFB, N.M.
May 2015 – April 2016, Deputy Commanding General – Operations, NATO Special Operations Component Command/Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan
April 2016 – present, Commanding General, Special Operations Command Korea, Camp Kim, Seoul, South Korea.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
August – December 2006, Commander, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Detachment, Afghanistan as a lieutenant colonel
May – September 2007, Deputy Commander, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component, Iraq/Afghanistan, as a lieutenant colonel
June 2009 – June 2011, Director of Staff and Special Assistant to the Director, DARPA, Arlington, VA as a colonel
May 2012 – January 2013, Commander, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component, Afghanistan as a colonel
May 2015 – April 2016, Deputy Commanding General – Operations, NATO Special Operations Component Command/Special Operations Joint Task Force, Kabul, Afghanistan as a brigadier general
April 2016 – present, Commanding General, Special Operations Command Korea, Camp Kim, Seoul, South Korea as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,500
Aircraft Flown: MC-130H, MC-130E, MC-130J, C-130E, AC-130H/U, CV-22, U-28, C-146, PC-12, UH-1N, MQ-9
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant
May 29, 1991
First Lieutenant
May 29, 1993
Captain
May 29, 1995
Major
March 1, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel
March 1, 2006
Colonel
October 1, 2009
Brigadier General
August 2, 2015
(Current as of February 2017)