Col. Trevor Merrell is the Commander of the 432d Wing, Creech AFB, Nevada. Colonel Merrell leads all operations and maintenance of the Air Force’s first Remotely Piloted Aircraft wing, equipped with more than 120 MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-170 Sentinel aircraft. The 432d Wing conducts 24/7 persistent attack and reconnaissance combat operations worldwide, while training pilots, combat systems officers, sensor operators, intelligence professionals, maintainers, and support personnel. As 432nd Wing Commander, Colonel Merrell leads more than 5,000 people across five groups and twenty squadrons, in addition to serving as the Installation Command Authority for Creech Air Force Base. In the role of 432d AEW Commander, he commands MQ-9 and RQ-170 deployed operations supporting USCENTCOM, USEUCOM, USAFRICOM, and USINDOPACOM Combatant Commanders.

Prior to assuming his current position, Col. Merrell served as the commander of the 25th Attack Group. He led more than 1,000 personnel within five squadrons, located across three geographically separated installations. The 25th ATKG provides 24/7/365 global MQ-9A operations for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and provides global attack options to combatant commands in support of national and theater-specific objectives.

Col. Merrell commissioned in 2003 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program, Arizona State University. He graduated from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB, Texas, as a distinguished graduate in 2004. He is also a graduate of the USAF Weapons Instructor Course and School of Advanced Air and Space Studies.

Col. Merrell is a senior pilot with combat time in the F-16, MQ-1 and MQ-9 supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.

 

EDUCATION

2003 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Arizona State University, Ariz.

2009 Master of Business Administration, Trident University International

2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2015 Master of Arts Degree in Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2016 Master of Philosophy Degree in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2020 Master of Arts Degree in National Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Ft McNair, Washington D.C.

 

ASSIGNMENTS

June 2003 – October 2003, Assistant Recruiting Officer, AFROTC SW, Tempe, Ariz.

November 2003 – June 2005, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas

July 2005 – April 2006, Student, F-16 training, Luke AFB, Ariz.

May 2006 – March 2008, F-16CJ Pilot/Munitions Officer, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany

April 2008 – September 2008, Student, later Pilot, MQ-9 Transition Course, 42nd Attack Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.

October 2008 – December 2010, MQ-1/9 Evaluator and Instructor Pilot, Squadron Executive Officer, and Flight Commander, 17th Reconnaissance Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.

Jan. 2011 – June 2011, Student, USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.

July 2011 – March 2013, MQ-9 Evaluator and Instructor Pilot, Squadron Weapons Officer, 17th Reconnaissance Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.

April 2013 – June 2014, Chief, Group Weapons and Tactics, 732d Operations Group, Creech AFB, Nev.

July 2014 – June 2015, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

July 2015 – June 2016, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

July 2016 – June 2017, Deputy Director, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Strategic Studies Group, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

July 2017 – May 2018, Director of Operations, 29th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.

June 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 9th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.

July 2020 – June 2021, Student, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C.

June 2021 – May 2023, Division Chief, J-32 Force Management, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

June 2023 – May 2025, Commander, 25th Attack Group, Shaw AFB, S.C.

June 2025 – Present, Commander, 432d Wing and 432d Air Expeditionary Wing, Creech AFB, Nev.

 

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Command Pilot

Flight hours: more than 2,900

Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16, MQ-1B, MQ-9A, MQ-9X

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Superior Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with two leaf clusters

Aerial Achievement Medal with nine oak leaf clusters

Air Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air Force Commendation Medal

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant, May 28, 2003

First Lieutenant, May 28, 2005

Captain, May 28, 2007

Major, October 1, 2013

Lieutenant Colonel, December 1, 2016

Colonel, April 1, 2022

 

(Current as of JUNE 2025)