Col Steven A. Mwesigwa is the Deputy Commander, 432d Wing, Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. The 432d Wing relentlessly generates and delivers decisive combat airpower in support of America’s top national security priorities conducting 24/7 persistent attack and reconnaissance combat operations worldwide. Col Mwesigwa assists and advises the Wing Commander for operations, maintenance, and support of the Air Force’s first Remotely Piloted Aircraft wing, equipped with MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-170 Sentinel remotely piloted aircraft. The wing is responsible for the mission readiness of 3,300 active duty and Reserve Airmen, government civilians, and contract personnel to include training pilots, combat systems officers, sensor operators, intelligence professionals, and support personnel.
Col Mwesigwa earned his commission at the U.S. Air Force Academy in June 2004. He has experience in Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Forces Europe, Air Forces Central, and Headquarters Air Force. He is a fighter and remotely piloted aircraft pilot, flying 590 combat support missions for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Prior to his current position, Col Mwesigwa was the Force Management Division Chief, Deputy Directorate for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Operations, Directorate of Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, US Air Force Academy, Colo.
2012 MQ-1/MQ-9 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2014 Master of Systems Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Ohio, by correspondence
2018 Master of Science Technology Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Bethesda, Md.
2024 Master of Science National Security, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
- August 2004 – December 2005, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
- April 2006 – December 2006, Student, F-15C Formal Training Unit, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
- December 2006 – May 2008, Assistant Chief of Mobility, F-15C Pilot, 493d Fighter Squadron, Lakenheath AB, United Kingdom
- May 2008 – May 2011, Assistant Chief of Safety, MQ-1/9 Instructor Pilot, 17th Reconnaissance Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.
- May 2011 – October 2013, Chief of Weapons, MQ-1/9 Evaluator Pilot, 6th Reconnaissance Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
- November 2013 – December 2015, Assist Chief Wing Standards/Evaluation, MQ-9 Evaluator Pilot, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- December 2015 – August 2017, Combat AF Functional Manager, Headquarters USAF, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
- August 2017 – November 2018, Student, National Intelligence University, Bethesda, Md.
- March 2019 – July 2020, Director of Operations, MQ-9 Evaluator Pilot, 492d Attack Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
- July 2020 – June 2022, Commander, 492d Attack Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
- June 2022 – June 2023, Director of Staff, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
- July 2023- June 2024, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
- June 2024 – June 2025, Branch Chief, Joint Integrated Air & Missile Defense Organization, J-8, JCS, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
- June 2025 – June 2026, Division Chief, Deputy Directorate ISR Operations, J-3, JCS, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
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June 2026 – Present, Deputy Commander, 432d Wing, Creech AFB, Nev.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2024 – June 2025, Joint Integrated Air & Missile Defense Organization, J-8, JCS, Pentagon, Washington D.C. as a lieutenant colonel
2. June 2025- June 2026, Deputy Directorate ISR Operations, J-3, JCS, Pentagon Washington DC as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 2,500 hours
Aircraft flown: F-15C, MQ-1B, MQ-9A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two silver leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2018 Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Archival Research Award – CJCS Historian award for outstanding archival research in military history
PUBLICATIONS
“Predator and Reaper Advancement in Combat Capabilities,” Air Land Sea Bulletin, Issue 2009-3, September 2009
“Integrated Dynamic Targeting with RPA and Fixed Wing Strike,” USAF Weapons Review, Winter 2013 (classified)
“Presidential Decision-Making in Aerial Surveillance: Enduring Themes from U-2, OXCART, Predator,” National Intelligence University Archive, July 2018 (classified)
“The 45-year Struggle for Afghan Refugees,” National War College Archive, June 2024
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2006
Captain June 2, 2008
Major July 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2019
Colonel June 1, 2025
(Current as of Aug 2026)