Col. David Aparicio is the commander of the 412th Electronic Warfare Group at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He is responsible for executing survivability and electronic warfare testing across a multitude of bases, capabilities and platforms supporting Air Force system development for the near-peer fight.
Aparicio entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps in 2004 after graduating from Baylor University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering. During his career, he served as materiel leader for the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center and squadron commander of the 47th Cyberspace Test Squadron. His other assignments include tours as a communications intelligence engineer, assistant to the director, program manager, network attack engineer, battalion electronic warfare officer, flight commander and assistant director of operations. He also held a staff assignment as the program element monitor for the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition. Prior to his current assignment, Aparicio was a student at the Eisenhower School at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. He has logged more than 380 hours in the EC-130H Compass Call, C-12 Huron, F-16 Fighting Falcon and 28 other military and civilian experimental aircraft.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Master of Science, Flight Test Engineering, U.S Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Master of Business Administration, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2023 Program Manager’s Course, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2026 Master of Science, National Security and Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School, Washington, D.C. (Distinguished Graduate)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 2004-April 2005, Communication Intelligence Electronics Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, NY
2. May 2005-December 2005, Assistant to the Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, NY
3. January 2006-October 2006, Cyber Operations Program Manager, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, NY
4. November 2006-February 2007, Special Projects Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, NY
5. March 2007-September 2010, Advanced Network Attack Lead Engineer, OL-AA 950th Electronic Systems Group, Lackland AFB, Texas
(February 2009-September 2009, Battalion Electronic Warfare Officer, Joint Task Force Paladin, Forward Operating Base Ramrod, Afghanistan)
6. October 2010-November 2012, Engineering Flight Commander, 661st Aeronautical Systems Squadron, Waco, Texas
7. December 2012-December 2013, Student, United States Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
8. January 2014-May 2016, Assistant Director of Operations, Global Vigilance Combined Test Force, Edwards AFB, Calif.
9. June 2016-May 2017, Tactical Analysis Program Element Monitor, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
10. June 2017-July 2018, Information Exploitation Branch Chief, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
11. August 2018-May 2020, Director, Emerging Technologies Combined Test Force, Edwards AFB, Calif.
12. June 2020-May 2022, Commander, 47th Cyberspace Test Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
13. June 2022-June 2025, Materiel Leader, E-4B Branch, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma
14. July 2025-June 2026, Student, Eisenhower School, Fort McNair, Washington, DC
15. July 2026-Present, Commander, 412th Electronic Warfare Group, Edwards AFB, Calif.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: none
Flight hours: more than 380
Aircraft flown: EC-130H, C-12, F-16, others
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
(Current as of August 2026)