Col Bishane “Doc” Whitmore is the Deputy Commander of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing, Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. He assists the Commander with leading the premier reconnaissance wing comprised of three groups, 14 squadrons, and three detachments, executing a budget of $70 million and employing aircraft, equipment, and facilities valued at $3.8 billion.
The wing trains, deploys, and redeploys over 2,200 Airmen in support of Air Expeditionary Force and combatant command requirements. It also provides facilities and equipment support for the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protections. Additionally, the wing is one of two locations worldwide operating the High-Frequency Global Communication System, providing operational support of senior leader communications for all Department of Defense agencies, including the President of the United States.
Col Whitmore enlisted in the Air Force in 2001 as a medical laboratory technician. He graduated from Saint Martin’s College and earned his commission as a Distinguished Graduate from Officer Training School in 2004. He is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and the Lorenz Fellowship where he earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Military Strategy. His background includes flying assignments in the B-1B, MQ-1B, MQ-9, and RQ-4 communities. He has led or flown combat and combat support missions for Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, and FREEDOM SENTINEL.
Prior to his current position, he served as Chief of Staff for the Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5), the Joint Staff, supporting the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, Saint Martin’s College, Lacey, Wash.
2007 Master of Business Administration, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Ariz.
2008 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2008 Master of Organizational Leadership, Northcentral University, Prescott, Ariz.
2011 Squadron Officer School (distinguished graduate), Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2016 Master of Military Art and Science (Art of War Scholar), Army Command and General Staff College, Fort
Leavenworth, Kan.
2017 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB,
Montgomery, Ala.
2021 Stephen R. Lorenz Fellowship for Advanced Research and Composition, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Doctor of Philosophy in Military Strategy, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Professional Speechwriting Course, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2023 Human and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Course, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge,
Mass.
2023 Joint and Combined Warfighting School (JPME II), Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2023 Machine Learning in Business Course, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management
Executive Program, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2001–March 2004, enlisted, culminated as medical laboratory technician, 62nd Medical Support Squadron,
McChord AFB, Wash.
2. March 2004–June 2004, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
3. July 2004–March 2006, student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, VT-10 Training Squadron then VT-86 Training
Squadron, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
4. March 2006–July 2006, student, Electronic Warfare Officer School, 562nd Training Squadron, Randolph AFB,
Texas
5. July 2006–October 2006, Assistant to Wing Senior Air Force Liaison Officer, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
6. October 2006–July 2007, student, B-1 Weapons Systems Officer Initial Qualification Course, 28th Bomb Squadron,
Dyess AFB, Texas
7. August 2007–April 2011, Weapons Systems Officer, Training Officer, Scheduling Officer, Instructor Weapons
Systems Officer, then Assistant Flight Commander, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
8. April 2011–November 2011, student, undergraduate Remotely Piloted Aircraft training, 558th Flying Training
Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
9. November 2011–February 2012, student, MQ-1B Initial Qualification Course, 16th Training Squadron, Holloman
AFB, N.M.
10. February 2012–September 2012, MQ-1B pilot, Flight Commander, 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, Creech AFB,
Nev.
11. September 2012–January 2014, MQ-1B/MQ-9 pilot, Chief of Formal Training, 17th Reconnaissance Squadron,
Creech AFB, Nev.
12. January 2014–June 2015, MQ-9 instructor pilot, Chief, Commander’s Action Group, 432d Wing/432d Air
Expeditionary Wing, Creech AFB, Nev.
13. June 2015–June 2016, student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
14. June 2016–June 2017, student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. July 2017–October 2017, student, RQ-4 Initial Qualification Course, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB,
Calif.
16. November 2017–June 2018, Director of Operations, 12th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
17. June 2018–June 2020, Commander, 12th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
18. June 2020–June 2021, student, Air University Stephen R. Lorenz PhD Fellowship, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
19. June 2021–July 2022, Speechwriter to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
20. July 2022–April 2023, Political-Military Planner (Middle East), Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. April 2023–July 2024, Chief of Staff, Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5), Joint Staff, the Pentagon,
Arlington, Va.
22. July 2024–Present, Deputy Commander, 319th Reconnaissance Wing, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2022–April 2023, Political-Military Planner (Middle East), Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5),
Middle East, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
2. April 2023–July 2024, Chief of Staff, Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5), Middle East, Joint Staff, the
Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: senior RPA pilot and navigator
Flight hours: more than 2,650 (758 combat hours)
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-1A, T-39, T-43, B-1B, MQ-1B, MQ-9, RQ-4
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Officer Training School
2006 Mike Gilroy Award, Top Electronic Warfare Officer Graduate
2007 Distinguished Graduate, B-1 Initial Qualification Course
2008 Curtis E. LeMay Award for Air Force Bomber Crew of the Year
2010 28th Bomb Wing Honor Guard Officer of the Year
2009 28th Bomb Wing Company Grade Officer of the Year
2009 28th Bomb Wing Lance P. Sijan U.S. Air Force Leadership Award Nominee
2011 Outstanding Contributor Award, Squadron Officer School
2011 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2011 Top Pilot, RPA Fundamentals Course
2012 Distinguished Graduate, MQ-1B Initial Qualification Course
2016 Distinguished Graduate (equivalent), Army Command and General Staff College
2016 Lieutenant Colonel Boyd MaCanna “Mac” Harris Leadership Award, Army Command and General Staff College
2017 Distinguished Graduate, RQ-4 Initial Qualification Course
2018 U.S. Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA) National Award
2023 Dean of Academic Affairs Writing Award, Joint and Combined Warfighting School
(Current as of 2 Aug. 2024)