Colonel Robert Claude is the Vice Commander, 310th Space Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. As vice commander, he assists the commander in leading nearly 1,100 military personnel supporting multiple military and civilian organizations in a wide variety of space operations with systems valued at more than $46 billion. The wing is also responsible for providing support to Air Force Space Command's security forces missions and the National Security Space Institute.
Colonel Claude was commissioned in 1991 through the Air Force ROTC program at the University of St. Thomas. His career includes an initial assignment at Undergraduate Space Training where he was a distinguished graduate. He has held operational positions as Deputy Crew Commander, Crew Commander, Flight Commander, Crew Instructor, and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation while assigned to the 1000th Space Operations Group (re-designated the 6th Space Operations Squadron) Offutt AFB, Neb.; and Operations Officer for the Fifth Air Force/374th Airlift Wing Command Post, Yokota AB, Japan. He was assigned to the National Security Agency (NSA) as an Information System Security Engineer on the Milstar and Advanced EHF military satellite communication systems. Colonel Claude transferred to the Air Force Reserve in 2000 as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee with NSA where he built and led a cell of IMAs supporting the NSA's Network RED TEAM operations. He has also held numerous positions within the space control mission area to include Deputy Flight Commander with the 8th Space Warning Squadron (detailed to the 76th Space Control Squadron), Flight Commander and Assistant Director of Operations with the 26th Space Aggressor Squadron, and the Director of Operations, as well as Commander of the 380th Space Control Squadron. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Claude served as the IMA to the Director of Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Space Command (AFSPC/A5), Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor's Degree, Computer Science and Quantitative Methods, University St. Thomas, Minn.
1997 Master of Business Administration Degree, University of Nebraska, Neb.
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2009 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 1991 - March 1992, student, Undergraduate Space Training, Lowry Air Force Base, Colo.
2. March 1992 - January 1994, Crew Commander/Flight Commander, 6th Space Operations Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
3. January 1994 - August 1995, Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 6th Space Operations Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
4. August 1995 - September 1997, Wing Command Post Operations Officer, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
5. September 1997 - July 2003, Milstar INFOSEC Systems Security Engineer/Information Systems Security Operations Officer, 694th Intelligence Group, Ft. George G. Meade, Md.
6. July 2003 - June 2004, Deputy Flight Commander/Crew Commander, 8th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.
7. June 2004 - October 2007, Adversary Tactics Flight Commander and Defensive Counterspace Officer, 26th Space Aggressor Squadron, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.
8. October 2007 - May 2011, Director of Operations, 380th Space Control Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
9. May 2011 - October 2012, Commander, 380th Space Control Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
10. October 2012 - April 2014, mobilization assistant to the Director of Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
11. May 2014 - Present, Vice Commander, 310th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and nine oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant August 29, 1991
First Lieutenant August 29, 1993
Captain August 29, 1995
Major October 1, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel August 2, 2007
Colonel October 13, 2012
(Current as of May 2014)