Col Ricardo M. Díaz is the Commander at 422d Air Base Group, headquartered at Royal Air Force Croughton, United Kingdom. He leads more than 800 personnel in providing combat support for United States Air Forces-Europe, Air Combat Command, Air Force Global Strike Command, seven Combatant Commands, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Organized into seven squadrons, the group is spread across four bases: RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Welford and RAF Blenheim Cresent. The group enables global command and control; global intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and global strike operations by operating a unique global communications site, the United States' only bomber forward operating location in Europe, and the second-largest capacity munitions facility in Europe.
Colonel Díaz entered the Air Force in 2001, receiving his commission from Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. He earned his pilot wings at Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. Col Díaz has a diverse operational background having experience as a mobility, training, and reconnaissance pilot. During his time in the Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Staff, Col Díaz served as Chief of Operational Force Management where he handled Combat Air Force assets to include Continuous Bomber Presence, Theater Support Package, and the Global Force Management for the theater. Additionally, he served as Chief of the Pacific Reconnaissance Center where he managed all airborne theater Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance assets. As Director of Operations for the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, Osan Air Base, Korea he was awarded the 2014 Air Force Association General Jerome F. O’Malley Award for “The Best Reconnaissance Crew in the Air Force”. Prior to his current position, Col Díaz was the Director of the Joint Operations Center (JOC) at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, H. M. Camp Smith, Hawaii.
Colonel Díaz is a command pilot with over 4,500 hours in the U-2S, TU-2S, KC-135R/T, T-1, T-6A, T-37 and T-38A. He has flown over 130 combat missions accumulating over 1,400 hours ISO Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN, as well as multiple deployments ISO USINDOPACOM, USEUCOM, USAFRICOM, USNORTHCOM and USCENTCOM.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, PR
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Master Aeronautical Science Technology, Embry Riddle University, Extended Campus
2011 Air Command and Staff College Program, by correspondence
2019 Air War College Program, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 2001 - April 2002, Student Pilot, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, TX
2. May 2003 - July 2006, KC-135RT Aircraft Commander, Assistant Flight Commander, 350th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, KS
3. August 2006 - November 2006, T-6 Instructor Pilot Training, 559th Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, TX
4. December 2006 - December 2009, T-6 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 85th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
5. December 2009 - October 2010, U-2S Student Pilot, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
6. October 2010 - October 2012, U-2S Instructor Pilot, Asst Director of Ops, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
7. October 2012 - July 2013, U-2S Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Tactics, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
8. July 2013 - July 2014, U-2S Evaluator Pilot, Director of Operations, 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, Osan AB, ROK
9. July 2014 - July 2015, Chief of Fighter Operations, PACAF A3/6OA, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
10. July 2015 - July 2016, Branch Chief Operational Force Management, PACAF A3/6OA, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
11. July 2016 - July 2017, Branch Chief Airborne ISR Operations, PACAF A3/6OR, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
12. July 2017 - May 2018, Director of Staff, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, CA
13. May 2018 - July 2019, Director of Operations, 9th Operations Support Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
14. July 2019 - July 2021, Commander, Detachment 4, 9th Operations Group, Andersen AFB, GU
15. July 2021 - May 2023, Branch Chief Future Operations, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, HI
16. May 2023 - June 2024, Director Joint Operations Center, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, HI
17. June 2024 - Present, Commander, 422d Air Base Group, Royal Air Force Croughton, United Kingdom
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2021 – June 2024, Branch Chief Future Operations; and Director Joint Operations Center, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, HI, as a Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,500
Aircraft flown: U-2S, TU-2S, KC-135R/T, T-1, T-6A, T-37 and T-38A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2014 Air Force Association General Jerome F. O’Malley Award for “The Best Reconnaissance Crew in the Air Force.”
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September 4, 2001
First Lieutenant September 4, 2003
Captain September 4, 2005
Major October 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2016
Colonel October 1, 2022
(Current as of June 2024)