COLONEL JAMES R. TAGGART Col. James R. Taggart serves as the Vice Commander of the 310th Space Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. He assists the Wing Commander in leading more than 1,100 military and civilian personnel supporting a wide variety of space operations missions and weapon systems valued at over $46 billion. His wing provides vital Reserve surge capabilities, expertise, and continuity in support of U.S. Space Command, Department of Defense and Department of Commerce space missions. Col. Taggart earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1999. After graduating Undergraduate Pilot Training, he flew the KC-10 aircraft at Travis Air Force Base, California, for almost five years, upgraded to instructor pilot, amassed over 2,000 flight hours and served five combat tours in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Following this operational assignment, Col. Taggart was selected as a Phoenix Hawk intern, Air Mobility Command’s premier leadership development program. In 2007, he joined the Air Force Reserve and served in several operational, command, and staff assignments at the unit and Major Command levels. Prior to his current assignment, Col. Taggart was the Commander, 310th Operations Group, Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. EDUCATION 1999 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. 2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2008 Master of Arts, Military Studies – Military Leadership, American Military University, W.Va 2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence 2012 College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, by correspondence 2013 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va. 2016 Air War College, by correspondence 2022 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense Univ, Fort McNair, Washington D.C. ASSIGNMENTS 1. August 1999 – December 1999, Student, Introductory Flight Training and Distinguished Visitor Tours Project Manager, 10th Air Base Wing, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. 2. December 1999 – February 2001, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. 3. February 2001 – June 2005, Flight Commander and KC-10 Instructor Pilot, 6th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif. (September 2001 – January 2003, various contingency deployments, units, and locations). 4. June 2005 – June 2006, Deputy Chief, Executive Missions Branch, Current Operations Division, 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, Scott AFB, Ill. 5. June 2006 – July 2007, Command KC-10 Evaluator Pilot and Chief, Aircrew Training Standardization, Directorate of Air, Space and Information Operations, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill. 6. July 2007 – April 2008 Plans and Programs Officer, 310th Space Group, Schriever AFB, Colo. 7. April 2008 – August 2011, Deputy Flight Commander, GPS Weapons and Tactics, 19th Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo. 8. August 2011 – May 2012, Battle Watch Senior Duty Officer, Force Generation Center, Robins AFB, Ga. 9. May 2012 – May 2014, Executive Officer, Force Generation Center, Robins AFB, Ga. 10. May 2014 – October 2014, Chief, Space, Cyber and AOC Branch, Directorate of Air, Space and Information Operations, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga. 11. October 2014 – October 2016, Commander, Detachment 1, 8th Space Warning Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo. 12. October 2016 – March 2019, Deputy Commander, 310th Operations Group, Schriever AFB, Colo. 13. March 2019 – August 2020, IMA to the Commander, Phillips Research Site, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 14. August 2020 – June 2021, Senior IMA, Space Training and Readiness Command-Task Force, Peterson SFB, Colo. 15. June 2021 – December 2022, Commander, 310th Operations Group, Schriever SFB, Colo. 16. December 2022 – Present, Vice Commander, 310th Space Wing, Schriever SFB, Colo. FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Pilot Flight hours: More than 2,000 Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1 and KC-10 MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Medal with oak leaf cluster Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant June 2, 1999 First Lieutenant June 2, 2001 Captain June 2, 2003 Major April 9, 2009 Lieutenant Colonel August 21, 2014 Colonel April 5, 2019 (Current as of December 2022)