Lieutenant Colonel Jesse W. Lamarand is the Commander, 451st Flying Training Squadron, 479th Flying Training Group, 12th Flying Training Wing, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. The 451st Flying Training Squadron conducts advanced Combat Systems Officer training in 21 modified T-1A Jayhawk aircraft in addition to the T25 simulator training device. The unit trains more than 350 active duty, guard and reserve officers in advanced navigation, electronic warfare and weapon systems employment to meet service and combatant commander operational requirements. Colonel Lamarand oversees the safety, supervision, training, curriculum development and standardization of over 125 instructor CSOs, Airmen, and civilians assigned to the 451st Flying Training Squadron. He also performs flight duties as an instructor for undergraduate students.
Colonel Lamarand earned his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Eastern Michigan University in 2000 and his wings at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida in 2001. After receiving an assignment to B-52s, Colonel Lamarand attended Initial Qualification Training at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. From there, he was assigned to the 20th Bomb Squadron. During his tenure in the 20th Bomb Squadron, Colonel Lamarand began as a Standardization and Evaluation Liaison Officer and was deployed to the Pacific Theater in support of USPACOM taskings. Following his deployment, Colonel Lamarand was appointed Weapons and Tactics Liaison Officer, then Training Flight Commander. For his third deployment, he was sent to British Indian Ocean Territory, Diego Garcia where he flew 16 combat sorties for a combined 240 hours for Operation Enduring Freedom. Returning from deployment, Colonel Lamarand was appointed 2d Operations Group Executive Officer, then selected for United States Air Force Weapons School. As a Weapons School graduate, he served as the Flight Commander for Nuclear Operations and Plans. Colonel Lamarand completed his time at Barksdale as Assistant Director of Operations of the 2d Operations Support Squadron.
Following his time at Barksdale, he was selected for the Air Force’s Regional Affairs Strategist program and was sent to the Naval Post-Graduate School, Monterey, California where he earned a Master’s Degree in National Security Studies and completed Spanish language training. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Joint Staff, J5 Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, at the Pentagon. Additionally, Colonel Lamarand earned a Master’s Degree in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University. He is also a recent graduate of the Army’s School for Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, where he earned another Master’s Degree in Military Operational Art and Science.
EDUCATION
2000 BA Political Science, Eastern Michigan University
2007 Squadron Officers School
2008 USAF Weapons School
2011 Defense Language Institute, Monterey California
2012 Master’s Degree Military Operational Art/Science, Air University
2012 Master’s Degree National Security Studies, Naval Post Graduate School
2014 Joint Professional Military Education II
2016 Master’s Degree, US Army School For Advanced Military Studies
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 2000-2002, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola, FL
2. 2002-2003, Navigator, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
3. 2003-2005, Radar Navigator, SELO, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
4. 2005-2006, Instructor Radar Navigator, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
5. 2006-2007, Flight Commander, Training, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
6. 2007 Executive Officer, 2 Operations Group, Barksdale AFB, LA
7. 2008 Student, USAF Weapons School, Barksdale AFB, LA
8. 2008-2009, Flight Commander, Nuclear Plans & Operations, 2 Operations Support Squadron
9. 2008-2209, Flight Commander Weapons & Tactics, 2 Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
10. 2009-2010, Assistant Director of Operations, 2 Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
11.
2011 Student, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, CA
12.
2012 Student, Naval Post-Graduate School, Monterey, CA
13.
2013-2015, Political-Military Affairs Strategist, Joint Staff J5 Western Hemisphere Affairs, Pentagon
14. 2015-2016, Student, School For Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth, KS
15. 2016-Present, Student, Instructor Combat Systems Officer Training, Pensacola, FL
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Combat Systems Officer
Flight hours: More than 2,000
Aircraft flown: T-34C, T-1A, T-39N/G, B-52H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
Humanitarian Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 30, 2000
First Lieutenant April 30, 2002
Captain April 30, 2004
Major November 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2015
(Current as of January 2017)