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| Library > Biographies > COLONEL DAVID P. BLANKS |
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COLONEL DAVID P. BLANKS
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Colonel David P. Blanks is Commander, Rome Research Site and Deputy Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Information Directorate, Rome, New York. The directorate's mission is to lead the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting information technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. Colonel Blanks is the installation commander for over 2,500 personnel. He plays a key role in overseeing an annual budget of more than $765 million and directing the activities of approximately 810 military and civilian scientists, engineers, administrative and support personnel.
Colonel Blanks graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1987 and worked various aircraft engineering and test analysis assignments. He also served a tour in space test squadron performing analysis and plans/programs. Colonel Blanks was selected for command as Air Officer Commanding of Cadet Squadron 4, US Air Force Academy where he was responsible for 110 cadets and making recommendations on commissionability. Following ACSC in-residence, he served as a staff officer to United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). In support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, he deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan as Chief, Policy and Strategy, Office of Military Cooperation. Remaining in USAFE, Colonel Blanks was named inaugural commander of the 421st Air Base Squadron, RAF Menwith Hill, UK overseeing 300+ personnel in five flights providing personnel, logistics, medical, communication and service support. He attended Air War College in-residence and was named Commander, Detachment 7, Air Force Research Laboratory's Propulsion Directorate where he provided comprehensive site mission support. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Blanks deployed to Tikrit, Iraq as the Commander of the 321st Expeditionary Mission Support Advisory Group. Situated at six sites across Iraq, his Group provided complete base support mentoring and he served as Senior Advisor to the Iraq Air Force Academy.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science, US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
1991 Master of Business Administration, University of Phoenix, Ogden, UT
1992 Master of Systems Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, WPAFB, OH
2002 Master of Military Operational Arts and Science, ACSC, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2008 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1987 - May 1991: Weapon Systems Engineer, F-4/F-16 System Program Manager Division, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, UT
2. May 1991 - December 1992: Graduate Student, Systems Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
3. December 1992 - May 1996: Senior Aircraft Logistics Analyst, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, NM
4. April 1994 - May 1994: Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
5. May 1996 - May 1998: Flight Commander, Plans and Programs, 17th Test Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO
6. May 1998 - May 2000: Commander, Cadet Squadron 4, 34th Training Group, US Air Force Academy, CO
7. May 2000 - June 2001: Deputy Commander, Cadet Group Two, 34th Training Group, US Air Force Academy, CO
8. July 2001 - June 2002: Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
9. June 2002 - January 2005: Basing and International Affairs Officer and Chief, Forces and International Agreements, Plans and Programs Directorate, United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
10. May 2004 - Aug 2004: Chief, Policy and Strategy, Office of Military Cooperation, Kabul, Afghanistan
11. January 2005 - October 2007: Commander, 421st Air Base Squadron, RAF Menwith Hill, United Kingdom
12. October 2007 - December 2008: Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
13. January 2009 - July 2010: Associate Director and Commander, Detachment 7, Propulsion Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards AFB, CA
14. July 2010 - July 2011: Commander, 321st Expeditionary Mission Support Advisory Group, COB Speicher, Tikrit, Iraq
15. August 2011 - present: Commander, Rome Research Site and Deputy Director, Information Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, NY
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant - 28 May 1987
First Lieutenant - 28 May 1989
Captain - 28 May 1991
Major - 1 Nov 1998
Lieutenant Colonel - 1 Jul 2003
Colonel - 1 Dec 2008
(Current as of September 2011)
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