Lieutenant General Bradley A. Heithold is a retired United States Air Force officer who served as Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command.[1] He also was the Commander of the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency (AFISRA) until July 19, 2011 when he handed command to Major General Robert Otto.[2] Heithold then became Vice Commander, United States Special Operations Command.[2] As AFISRA Commander, Heithold's duties included providing multi-source ISR products, applications, capabilities and resources, as well as information operations forces and expertise.[1]

Bradley Heithold
Lieutenant General Bradley A. Heithold in 2016
Born (1956-02-27) 27 February 1956 (age 68)
Lynwood, California, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1974–2018
RankLieutenant General
CommandsAir Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency
451st Air Expeditionary Group
347th Rescue Wing
58th Operations Group
16th Special Operations Squadron
Battles / warsWar in Afghanistan
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star Medal

Education

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1981 Bachelor's degree in physics, University of Arkansas, AR
1986 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
1991 Master of Public Administration degree, Troy State University, AL.
1995 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
1998 National Defense Fellow, Florida International University, Miami, FL
1999 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.

Military career

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Heithold entered the United States Air Force in 1974 and spent three years at Holloman AFB, New Mexico as an F-4D avionics technician. From there, he was commissioned in 1981 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at the University of Arkansas. Heithold has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels, including the 451st Air Expeditionary Group in Southwest Asia. Staff assignments include positions on the Air Staff and a unified command staff. He was at Air Force Special Operations Command Headquarters, Hurlburt Field, Florida, where he was Director of Plans, Programs, Requirements and Assessments. Heithold is a master navigator with more than 3,400 flight hours in the C-130, AC-130H, MC-130P and HC-130P.[1]

Awards and decorations

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   Master Navigator Badge
  Master Intelligence Badge
  Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
  Headquarters Air Force Badge
  Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
  Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
  Bronze Star Medal
  Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf cluster
  Aerial Achievement Medal
  Air Force Commendation Medal
  Army Commendation Medal
  Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
  Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
  Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
  Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with one bronze service star
  Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
  NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon
  Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
  Air Force Training Ribbon
  NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia

Promotions

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Second Lieutenant May 27, 1981
First Lieutenant Aug. 5, 1983
Captain Aug. 5, 1985
Major May 1, 1993
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 1997
Colonel April 1, 2000
Brigadier General Sept. 2, 2006
Major General Dec. 9, 2008
Lieutenant General Jul. 19, 2011

Source: Air Force biography[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Biographies : Lieutenant General Bradley A. Heithold". Af.mil. July 2014. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  2. ^ a b Amann, Wayne (2011-07-21). "Otto takes command of AFISRA". Air Force ISR Agency Public Affairs (afisr.af.mil). Retrieved 2012-11-10.
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