Col Reynaldo Champion is the Commander of the 319th Mission Support Group, Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The 319th Mission Support Group is the largest and most diverse group in the wing, with 1,300 Airmen and civilian personnel comprised of six squadrons which provides logistics, security, civil engineer, contracting, communications, and force support functions. This portfolio of facilities and equipment is valued at $2.4 billion. Additionally, the group provides world class Base Operating Support capabilities to the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Space Force.
Colonel Champion received his commission through Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in 2002. He has served in various leadership positions at the squadron, group, MAJCOM Staff, Air Staff, and Joint Staff. Prior to his current assignment, he was student at National War College, Ft McNair, Washington D.C.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor’s degree in History with specialization in Computer Systems, University of Maryland, University College, Adelphi, Maryland
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2002 Basic Communications Officer Training, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2007 Master of Information Technology Management, Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri 2010 Advanced Communications Officer Training, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
2012 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence) 2014 Air Force Strategic Policy Fellowship, Washington D.C. 2017 Air War College (correspondence)
2024 National Defense University, Ft McNair, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. April 2002 – March 2004, Contingency and Exercise Communications Officer and Executive Officer to the Commander, 608th Air Communications Squadron, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana (February – October 2003 Intratheater Communications Liaison, Al Udeid AB, Qatar and Baghdad International Airport, Iraq)
2. April 2004 - April 2007, Officer in Charge, Telecommunications Switch Security Assistance Program (TSSAP), Air Force Information Warfare Center, Lackland AFB, Texas (July 2005 - December 2005, Liaison Officer to Vice President of Iraq, Personal Security Coordination Cell, Strategic Operations, Multi-National Force Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq)
3. May 2007 - May 2008, CAOC Mission Support Flight Commander, Al Udeid Air Base (AB), Qatar
4. June 2008 - July 2009, Air Force Network Operations Action Officer, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
5. July 2009 - May 2012, Executive Communications Officer to the Commander, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
6. June 2012 - June 2013, Commander, 8th Communications Squadron, Kunsan AB, South Korea
7. July 2013 - June 2014, Air Force Strategic Policy Fellowship, Washington, D.C. (Fall: Department of Homeland Security - National Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Center & Spring: Office of the Secretary of Defense - APSA East Asia Office)
8. June 2014 - June 2016, Joint Staff J6 Action Officer, and then Executive Officer to the Vice Director J6, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
9. July 2016 - July 2018, Commander, 6th Communications Squadron, MacDill AFB, Florida
10. July 2018 - June 2019, Deputy Commander, Joint Communications Support Element (Airborne), MacDill AFB, Florida
11. July 2019 – July 2021, Chief, Senior Leader Management, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2021 – April 2022, Director for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)/Joint Force Headquarters- Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DODIN) Combined Action Group, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
13. April 2022 – July 2023, Division Chief, Crisis Management System Program Office, Executive Technologies Directorate, White House Communications Agency (WHCA), Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)
14. August 2023 – June 2024, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, D.C.
15. July 2024 – Present, Commander, 319th Mission Support Group, Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS2.
1. July 2005 - December 2005, Liaison Officer to Vice President of Iraq, Personal Security Coordination Cell, Strategic Operations, Multi-National Force Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq
2. June 2014 - June 2016, Joint Staff J6 Action Officer, and then Executive Officer to the Vice Director J6, Pentagon, Washington,
D.C. as a major
3. July 2018 - June 2019, Deputy Commander, Joint Communications Support Element (Airborne), MacDill AFB, Florida as a lieutenant colonel
4. July 2021 – April 2022, Director for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)/Joint Force Headquarters- Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DODIN) Combined Action Group, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland as a lieutenant colonel
5. April 2022 – July 2023, Division Chief, Crisis Management System Program Office, Executive Technologies Directorate, White House Communications Agency (WHCA), Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
(Current as of July 2024)