Colonel Brandon J. Tellez is the Commander of the 1st Fighter Wing, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley- Eustis, Virginia. He is responsible for the worldwide rapid deployment and employment of F-22 air dominance fighters in support of Combatant Commander taskings. He oversees 1,700 personnel, two airfields, two groups, and 11 squadrons, including two F-22 fighter squadrons, the F-22 formal training unit, and a T-38 fighter training squadron.
Col Tellez received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 2001. After earning his wings from Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, TX he reported to his first operational assignment at Langley AFB, VA. Flying the F-15C before transitioning to the F-22A, Col Tellez has served four flying tours in addition to several deployments around the world culminating is his command of the 525th Fighter Squadron at JBER, AK. Col Tellez is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School with ~2500 hours of flight time including 300 hours of combat and received a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School and a Master’s in National Security Resourcing Strategy from the Eisenhower School.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science in Management/Pre-Med, United States Air Force Academy 2002 Master of Business Finance, Katz School of Business, University of Pittsburgh 2008 Squadron Officer School, Air University
2012 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Air University
2012 Advanced Studies Group, Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, Newport, R.I.
2018 Master of Nation Security Resourcing Strategy, The Eisenhower School, National Defense University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2001 – July 2002, Student, Katz School of Business, Pittsburgh, PA
2. August 2002 – March 2004, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training/IFF, Sheppard AFB, TX
3. April 2004 – November 2004, Student, F-15C Initial Qualification Training, Tyndall AFB, FL
4. December 2004 – June 2007, F-15C Mission Commander, Electronic Combat Officer, 71FS, Langley AFB, VA
5. July 2007 – October 2007, Student, F-22A Initial Qualification Training, Tyndall AFB, FL
6. October 2007 – July 2009, F-22A Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 27FS, Langley AFB, VA
7. July 2009 – December 2009, Student, United States Air Force Weapons School, 433WPS, Nellis AFB, NV
8. January 2010 – February 2014, Squadron / Wing Weapons Officer/Director of Operations, 7FS, Holloman AFB, NM
9. Feb 2014 – June 2015, Chief of Safety, 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
10. June 2015 – May 2017, Commander, 525th Fighter Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
11. Aug 2017 – June 2018, Graduate Student, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, D.C.
12. June 2018 – June 2021, Operations Research Analyst, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense
13. June 2021 – June 2023, Commander, 1st Operations Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
14. July 2023 – Current, Commander, 1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot Total Flight Hours: 2,500
Primary Aircraft Flown: T-38A/C, F-15C/D, F-22A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with eight oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 2001
First Lieutenant May 30, 2003
Captain May 30, 2005
Major Jan. 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2015
Colonel Feb. 1, 2021
(CURRENT AS OF APRIL 2024)