Col. Steven A. Mwesigwa is the Deputy Commander, 432d Wing, Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. As Deputy Commander, he is responsible for all operations of the Air Force’s first Remotely Piloted Aircraft wing, equipped with MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-170 Sentinel aircraft. The 432d Wing conducts combat surveillance and attack operations worldwide while also training pilots, combat system officers, sensor operators, intelligence professionals, and support personnel. Col. Mwesigwa leads more than 2,500 active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, government civilians and contract personnel across three groups and the wing staff agencies. Additionally, he assists in the execution of operational authorities for the Combined Forces and Joint Forces Air Component Commanders for 432d Wing combat units as well as twelve Air National Guard combat MQ-9 units across the United States.
Col. Mwesigwa earned his commission at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2004. He began his career as an F-15C Eagle pilot, then transitioned to Remotely Piloted Aircraft, serving as an Instructor/Evaluator in the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper for multiple operational and training squadrons. Col Mwesigwa served as Director of Operations, then Commander, 492d Attack Squadron, March Air Force Base, California. Prior to his JCS assignment, he was a student at National War College, Fort McNair, Washington DC.earned his commission at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2004. He began his career as an F-15C Eagle pilot, then transitioned to Remotely Piloted Aircraft, serving as an Instructor/Evaluator in the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper for multiple operational and training squadrons. Col Mwesigwa served as Director of Operations, then Commander, 492d Attack Squadron, March Air Force Base, California. Prior to his JCS assignment, he was a student at National War College, Fort McNair, Washington DC.
Col Mwesigwa is a command pilot with 2,500 flight hours in the F-15C, MQ-1, and MQ-9 supporting Operations SKY MARSHALL and ENDURING FREEDOM.
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 Science, Systems Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Ohio, by correspondence
2018 Master of Science and 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 Basic Course, 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, Wing Staff, MQ-9 Evaluator Pilot, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- December 2015 - August 2017, Combat Air Force 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 AFB, Calif.
- July 2020 - June 2022, Commander, 492d Attack Squadron, March AFB, Calif.
- June 2022 - June 2023, Director of Staff, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
- July 2023 - June 2024, Student, National War College, 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 - Present, Division Chief, Deputy Directorate ISR Operations, J-3, JCS, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2024 - June 2025, Joint Integrated Air & Missile Defense Organization, J-8, JCS, Pentagon, Washington D.C. as a Lt Col
- June 2025 - Present, Deputy Directorate ISR Operations, J-3, JCS, Pentagon Washington DC as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: 2,500 hours, 590 combat support missions
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 Force 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
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 June 2026)