Colonel Robert G. Armfield is the Commander, 24th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. He is responsible for preparing special tactics forces for rapid global employment to ensure airpower success. The 24th SOW is comprised of two special tactics groups and a training squadron with more than 1,500 assigned special operations Battlefield Airmen and combat support personnel encompassing 58 Air Force specialties.
Colonel Armfield received his commission in 1990 as an Air Force ROTC distinguished graduate from The Citadel. He has previously commanded special operations forces at the squadron, group, and joint expeditionary level. He also served as the aide de camp to the Secretary of the Air Force and chief of strategy for U.S. European Command. He has multiple combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Prior to assuming his current assignment, Col Armfield served as the 720th Special Tactics Group commander, Hurlburt Field Fla.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (AFROTC Distinguished Graduate), The Citadel, SC
1996 Squadron Officer School (Distinguished Graduate), Maxwell AFB, AL
2002 Master of Arts in Military Art and Operational Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2007 Fellow, National Security Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
2012 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Mar 1991 - Mar 1995, Chief, Standardization/Evaluation, SE Air Defense Sector, Tyndall AFB, FL
2. Mar 1995 - Dec 1996, Combat Control Officer Trainee, multiple installations
3. Dec 1996 - Dec 1998, Flight Commander, 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, McChord AFB, WA
4. Jan 1998 - Jul 2002, Director of Operations, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, NC
5. Aug 2002 - May 2003, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
6. Jun 2003 - May 2005, Aide de Camp to the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, VA
7. Jun 2005 - Jun 2007, Commander, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, NC
8. Jul 2007 - Jun 2008, Fellow, National Security Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
9. Jun 2008 - Jun 2010, Chief, Strategy Division, U.S. European Command, Vaihingen, Germany
10. Jun 2010 - Jun 2012, Commander, 720th Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field, FL
11. Jun 2012 - Present, Commander, 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, FL
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraqi Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Air Force Special Tactics Officer of the Year
2002 Air Force Lance Sijan Leadership Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 1990
First Lieutenant October 1992
Captain October 1994
Major November 2001
Lieutenant Colonel May 2005
Colonel October 2008
(Current as of May 2013)