Col David M. Anderson is the Commander at the 159th Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, Louisiana. As Wing Commander, he is responsible for formulating, developing, and coordinating all policies, plans, programs, and readiness affecting more than 1,500 Louisiana Air National Guard Airmen and civilians throughout the State.
Col Anderson commissioned in 2001 through ROTC from Texas A&M University and earned his pilot wings at Laughlin AFB, TX. He served eleven years on active duty with his first operational flying assignment and was in the 493d Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, UK. There, he supported Operation PEACEFUL SUMMIT as a mission planner and pilot, flying air policing missions defending 26 NATO heads of state, including the President of the United States. Next, he moved to AETC, serving as a Flight Commander, an instructor and evaluator pilot in the F-15C Formal Training Unit located at Tyndall AFB, FL. In 2010, he moved to Nellis AFB and joined the Adversary Tactics Group as a Red Flag mission commander and an assistant director of operations in the 65th Aggressor Squadron. During his time at Nellis AFB, he deployed to Bagram AB, Afghanistan for seven months as a MC-12W Mission Commander and Instructor Pilot in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Col Anderson transitioned to the Louisiana Air National Guard in 2013 as the Chief of Scheduling and later a Flight Commander. He graduated from the US Air Force Weapons School in 2016 and served as the 122d Fighter Squadron Weapons Officer for the next three years. Col Anderson deployed with the Louisiana Air National Guard on three Theater Security Package missions providing the EUCOM and PACOM Commanders with deterrent air superiority forces while maintaining regional stability. Prior to his current position, Col Anderson served as 159th Fighter Wing Deputy Wing Commander and was Commander of both the 159th Operations Group and 159th Operations Support Flight, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans.
Col Anderson is a Command Pilot with more than 3,900 hours in multiple aircraft including the F-15C, MC-12W and T-38. His aircraft time also includes 137 sorties and more than 700 hours in combat. He is an Airbus pilot with a major airline.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Arts, History, Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2016 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2021 Air War College, Correspondence
2022 Commander’s Professional Development School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2023 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
2023 Reserve Component National Security Course, Washington, D.C.
2024 Dual Status Commander Training Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2001 – June 2001, Standardization & Evaluation Liaison, 49th Operations Group, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
2. June 2001 – November 2003, Student Pilot, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Tex.
3. November 2003 – July 2004, F-15C Student Pilot, 2d Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. July 2004 – March 2008, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Chief Air to Air Division, Activity Security Manager, Scheduler, Assistant Chief of Weapons, 493d Fighter Squadron and 48th Operations Support Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
5. March 2008 – October 2010, F-15C Evaluator and Instructor Pilot, Chief of Standardization & Evaluation, Flight Commander, Chief of Scheduling, 2d and 95th Fighter Squadrons, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
6. October 2010 – August 2013, F-15C Evaluator and Instructor Pilot, Aggressor Mission Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, 65th Aggressor Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. August 2013 – January 2016, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Chief of Scheduling and Flight Commander, 122d Fighter Squadron, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
8. January 2016 – June 2016, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. June 2016 – October 2019, F-15C Squadron Weapons Officer, 122d Fighter Squadron, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
10. October 2019 – December 2020, Commander, 159th Operations Support Flight, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
11. December 2020 – January 2022, Commander, 159th Operations Group, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
12. February 2022 – May 2023, Deputy Commander, 159th Fighter Wing, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
13. June 2023 – present, Commander, 159th Fighter Wing, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,900, including 753 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-15C/D/DJ, MC-12W, T-38, T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and one oak leaf cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant December 28, 2001
First Lieutenant December 28, 2003
Captain December 28, 2005
Major December 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel July 9, 2017
Colonel May 26, 2022
(Current as of February 2025)