Colonel DAVID A. CASTOR

Colonel David A. Castor is the Commander, 319th Mission Support Group, Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. Colonel Castor commands the 319th Reconnaissance Wing’s largest and most diverse group, comprised of over 1,300 personnel. He leads six squadrons to provide logistics, security, civil engineer, contracting, communications, and force support warfighting capabilities with $2.2 billion in facilities and equipment. He identifies and prioritizes the group’s mission requirements as he executes a $55 million budget. Colonel Castor also provides facilities and support to mission partners including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, and provides integrated base defense for Cavalier Space Force Station, North Dakota.

Colonel Castor received his commission through Air Force ROTC Detachment 536 at Clarkson University in 1998 earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering.   He went on to receive a Master of Science in Information Assurance in 2008 from the University of Maryland.  Col Castor’s notable previous assignments include Director of Communications for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve where he provided strategic and tactical communications to warfighters from “many nations” contributing to the lasting defeat of Da’esh.  He also served as a legislative liaison in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, contributing to effective Department of the Air Force engagement with Congress and commanded the 432d Aircraft Communications Maintenance Squadron at Creech AFB, where he was responsible for MQ-1 and MQ-9 ground control stations and links to aircraft flying combat operations across the globe 24/7.

 

EDUCATION

1998       Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam NY
1998       Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
1999       Basic Communications Officer Training, Keesler Air Force Base, MS
2003       Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2006       Advanced Communications Officer Training, Keesler Air Force Base, MS
2008       Air Command and Staff College (Distance Learning), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2008       Master of Science, Information Assurance, University of Maryland University College, Adelphi MD
2010       Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk VA
2012       Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
2017       Air War College (Distance Learning), Maxwell AFB, AL

 

ASSIGNMENTS

1.  August 1998 - July 1999, OIC Tech Control, 608th Air Communications Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
2.  July 1999 - May 2000, Theater Communications Engineer, 608th Air Communications Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
3.  May 2000 - June 2001, Chief, Combat Systems, 352d Operations Support Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
4.  June 2001 - March 2002, Squadron Executive Officer, 352d Operations Support Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
5.  May 2002 - April 2004, ATCALS Evaluations Engineer, Air Force Flight Standards Agency, Andrews AFB, MD
6.  June 2003 - November 2003, Advisor to the Ministry of Transportation, Coalition Provisional Authority, Baghdad, Iraq
6.  April 2004 - April 2006, Chief, ATCALS Evaluations Division, Air Force Flight Standards Agency, Andrews AFB, MD
7.  April 2006 - February 2007, Commander, Plans and Implementations Flight, 18th Communications Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
8.  February 2007 - August 2007, Commander, Information Systems Flight, 18th Communications Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
9.  August 2007 - March 2009, Deputy Commander, 18th Communications Squadron, Kadena AB, JP
10. November 2007 – February 2008, Air Forces Central Liaison to Joint Netops Control Center-Iraq, Camp Victory, Iraq
10. March 2009 - July 2009, Acting Commander, 18th Communications Squadron, Kadena AB, JP
10. July 2009 - December 2012, Joint C4I Officer, Joint Interoperability Test Command, Fort Huachuca, AZ
11. January 2013 - June 2013, Student and Instructor, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
12. June 2013 - June 2015, Commander, 432 Aircraft Communications Maintenance Squadron, Creech AFB, NV
13. July 2015 - June 2017, Branch Chief, Research and Deputy Div Chief, Corporate Assessment and Program Evaluation, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Springfield VA
14: June 2017 - May 2018, Chief, Cyber Portfolio, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Legislative Liaison, Pentagon, Washington DC
15: May 2018 – June 2019, Deputy Division Chief, Weapons Systems, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Legislative Liaison, Pentagon, Washington DC
16: June 2019 – June 2020, Division Chief, Congressional Correspondence, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Legislative Liaison, Pentagon, Washington DC
17: June 2020-June 2021, Director of Communications (CJ6) Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, Union III, Baghdad, Iraq and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
18: July 2021 – Present, Chief, Theater Operations Division, HQ USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein AB, Germany

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 OLC
Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 OLC
Joint Service Commendation Medal w/ 1 OLC
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal w/ 1 OLC
Army Achievement Medal
Operation Inherent Resolve Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 2 devices
Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

 

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

2008       PACAF Comm and Information Field Grade Officer of the Year
2008       18th Mission Support Group Lance P. Sijan Award - Junior Officer Category
2007       Kadena AB Comm and Information Company Grade Officer of the Year
2005       AF/XO Company Grade of the Quarter - Fourth Quarter

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant              June 27, 1998
First Lieutenant                    June 27, 2000
Captain                                  June 27, 2002
Major                                      February 1, 2008
Lt Col                                     June 1, 2013
Col                                          Aug 1, 2019

(Current as of Aug 7, 2022)