Colonel Charles A. McElvaine is Commander of the 479th Flying Training Group at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida. The Group includes four squadrons, 325 personnel and 45 T-6 Texan II and T-1A Jayhawk aircraft and trains over 300 Combat Systems Officers each year for the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard. Additionally, the Group supports over 1,500 Air Force personnel in the Pensacola, Florida area. Prior to this command assignment, he was the Nuclear Operations Division Chief, Deputy Directorate for Nuclear, Homeland Defense and Current Operations, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
Col McElvaine graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1997 and was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. After completing Undergraduate Navigator Training and B-52H Initial Qualification, he joined the 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, LA. From 1999 through 2009, Col McElvaine served in numerous squadron, group, and wing-level positions in the 2d Bomb Wing and 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, ND. He completed multiple deployments in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, including duties as B-52H mission planning cell team chief and bomber liaison officer to United States Central Command’s Combined Air Operations Center. Col McElvaine has more than 2,300 hours in the B-52H including 181 hours of combat time. He is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School, Air Command and Staff College, the USAF School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and National War College.
EDUCATION:
1997 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University
2003 Distinguished graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Distinguished graduate, Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University (Air Command and Staff College), Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, Air University (School of Advanced Air and Space Studies), Maxwell AFB, AL
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL (by correspondence)
2015 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National Defense University (National War College), Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2017 National Strategic Executive Leadership Seminar, Department of State, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. May 1997-July 1997, Administrative Officer, Air Force ROTC Detachment 250, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
2. July 1997-December 1998, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola NAS, Pensacola, FL
3. December 1998-August 1999, Student, B-52H Initial Qualification Course, Barksdale AFB, LA
4. August 1999-January 2003, Navigator, Instructor Radar Navigator, Evaluator Radar Navigator, and Assistant Flight Commander for Standardization and Evaluation, 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
5. January 2003-June 2003, Student, USAF Weapons School (B-52H division), Barksdale AFB, LA
6. June 2003-January 2004, Weapons Officer, 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
7. January 2004-November 2005, Chief of Operational Plans, Wing Weapons Officer, Weapons and Tactics Flight Commander, 5th Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, ND
8. November 2005-February 2007, Executive Officer, 5th Operations Group, Minot AFB, ND
9. February 2007-July 2007, Assistant Director of Operations, 23d Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, ND
10. July 2007-August 2009, Director of Staff, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, ND
11. August 2009-June 2010, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
12. June 2010-June 2011, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL
13. June 2011-October 2011, Chief, Strategic Plans and Requirements, HQ 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, LA
14. October 2011-July 2012, Deputy Director, Plans, Programs and Requirements, HQ 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, LA
15. July 2012-July 2014, Commander, 2d Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
16. July 2014-June 2015, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
17. June 2015-June 2017, Chief, Nuclear Operations Division, J-33, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
18. June 2017-Present, Commander, 479th Flying Training Group, Pensacola NAS, FL
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 2,500, including 181 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: T-34, T-1, T-39, B-52H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant 28 May 1997
First Lieutenant 28 May 1999
Captain 28 May 2001
Major 1 October 2006
Lieutenant Colonel 1 December 2011
Colonel 1 May 2016
(Current as of Oct. 26, 2017)