Lieutenant Colonel Michael R. Maeder is the Commander of the 1st Flying Training Squadron, 306th Flying Training Group, 12th Flying Training Wing, Pueblo, Colorado. The 1st Flying Training Squadron provides Initial Flight Training for all Air Force officers scheduled to enter Pilot, Combat Systems Operator, or Remotely Piloted Aircraft training. The squadron provides direct oversight for Air Education and Training Command’s $22 million Initial Flight Training contract and administers training for 2,000 aviation students annually. The geographically separated squadron conducts operations from the Pueblo Memorial Airport in Pueblo, Colorado.
Lieutenant Colonel Maeder was commissioned through the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Florida in May 1998 and completed Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in January 2000. He has flown several different aircraft, amassing 3700 hours, and has served primarily as an Instructor and Evaluator Pilot in the F-15E. His combat experience includes over 560 hours flown in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.
Prior to his current position, Lieutenant Colonel Maeder served as the Director of Staff, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Air Command and Staff College, distance learning program
2010 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1998 – Dec 1998, Scheduling Officer, 68 FS, Moody AFB, GA
2. Jan 1999 – Jan 2000, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, OK
3. Feb 2000 – Jun 2001, T-37B Instructor Pilot & Scheduling Officer, 33 FTS, Vance AFB, OK
4. Jul 2001 – Aug 2003, T-6A Instructor Pilot & Stan/Eval Check Pilot, 3 FTS, Moody AFB, GA
5. Sep 2003 – Jun 2004, Student, F-15E Basic Course, 334 FS, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
6. Jul 2004 – Feb 2007, F-15E Flight Lead & Flight Commander, 494 FS, RAF Lakenheath, UK
7. Mar 2007 – Sep 2008, F-15E Instructor Pilot & Asst Director of Operations, 333 FS, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
8. Oct 2008 – Oct 2009, F-15E Evaluator Pilot & Chief of Contract Aircrew Training, Air Combat Command Training Support Squadron, Detachment 15, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
9. Nov 2009 – Apr 2012, F-15E Demonstration Pilot & Team Commander, 4 OG, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
10. May 2012 – Apr 2013, Chief, Strategy Guidance Team, 607 AOC, Osan AB, ROK
11. May 2013 – Oct 2013, F-15E Evaluator Pilot & Chief of Stan/Eval, 336 FS, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
12. Nov 2013 – Mar 2015, F-15E Evaluator Pilot & Director of Operations, 4 TS, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
13. Apr 2015 – Oct 2015, F-15E Evaluator Pilot, Director of Staff, 4 FW, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
14. Oct 2015 – Present, DA-20 Evaluator Pilot & Commander, 1 FTS, Pueblo, CO
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 3700
Combat Hours: 560
Aircraft Flown: T-37B, T-6A, T-38A/C, F-15E, and DA-20
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, May 1998
First Lieutenant, May 2000
Captain, May 2002
Major, February 2007
Lieutenant Colonel, June 2013