Col. Hans N. Buckwalter is the Commander, 412th Electronic Warfare Group, Edwards Air Force Base, California, 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.
Col Buckwalter earned his commission in 2003 as a distinguished graduate of Officer Training School after receiving a degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla. He has a broad operational and test background including four F-15E deployments. During one of these deployments, he earned an Air Force level safety award for landing an F-15E on only the nose and right main landing gear after a malfunction. Col Buckwalter is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School and previously served as Defense Fellow for Congressman Rob Bishop, Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and member of the House Armed Services Committee. Prior to his current position, Col Buckwalter served as Director of Safety, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, California.
Col Buckwalter is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flight hours in the F-15E, F-16, F-35A/B/C, T-38A/B/C, C-12C/F/J, and 33 other types. He has flown over 250 combat hours and supported Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and NOBLE EAGLE.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, Missouri
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering, Air University, Edwards AFB, Calif.
2017 Certificate in Legislative Studies, Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2003 – October 2003, Student, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2. November 2003 – September 2005, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. September 2005 – May 2006, Student, F-15E Formal Training Unit, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina
4. May 2006 – May 2009, F-15E Multi-Ship Flight Lead, Weapons Officer, 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina
5. May 2009 – May 2012, F-15E Flight Examiner, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
6. May 2012 – June 2013, Student, United States Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
7. June 2013 – June 2014, F-16 Experimental Test Pilot, Flight Commander, 461st Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
8. June 2014 – June 2016, F-35 Experimental Instructor Test Pilot, Director of Integrated Test and Evaluation, 461st Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
9. July 2016 – December 2016, Developmental Rotation, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
10. January 2017 – December 2018, Class Leader, Air Force Legislative Fellows and Defense Fellow, Chairman Rob Bishop, Washington, D.C.
11. January 2018 – June 2018, Chief of Safety, 704th Test Group, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
12. June 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 586th Flight Test Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
13. July 2020 – September 2021, Chief, Research Division, United States Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
14. September 2021 – August 2022, Deputy Commandant, United States Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
15. August 2022 – June 2024, Director of Safety, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.
16. June 2024 – Present, Commander, 412th Electronic Warfare Group, Edwards AFB, Calif.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,500 including more than 250 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: F-15E, F-16, F-35A/B/C, T-38A/B/C, C-12C/F/J, and 33 other types
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Distinguished Graduate and Thomas Jefferson Academic Award, Officer Training School
2010 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2010 12th Air Force Outstanding Airmanship Award
2010 Air Combat Command Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction
2010 United States Air Force Koren Collegian Jr. Trophy
2013 Distinguished Graduate, Liethen-Tittle Award, and Aaron C. George Award, United States Air Force Test Pilot School
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Member, Society of Experimental Test Pilots