Colonel Jesse W. Lamarand hails from southeastern Michigan. He earned his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Eastern Michigan University in 2000 and his wings at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida in 2001. After receiving an assignment to B-52s, Colonel Lamarand attended Initial Qualification Training at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. From there, he was assigned to the 20th Bomb Squadron. During his time at Barksdale, Colonel Lamarand deployed several times to the Pacific Theater including British Indian Ocean Territory, Diego Garcia where he flew 16 combat sorties for a combined 240 hours for Operation Enduring Freedom. Returning from deployment, Colonel Lamarand was appointed 2d Operations Group Executive Officer, and was selected for United States Air Force Weapons School. As a Weapons School graduate, Colonel Lamarand served as the Flight Commander for Nuclear Operations and Plans at the 2d Operation Support Squadron leading the effort to reinvigorate the nuclear enterprise. Colonel Lamarand completed his time at Barksdale as Assistant Director of Operations of the 2d Operations Support Squadron.
Following his time at Barksdale, he was selected for the Air Force’s Regional Affairs Strategist program. Col Lamarand was sent to the Naval Post-Graduate School, Monterey, California where he earned a Master’s Degree in National Security Studies and completed Spanish language training. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Joint Staff, J5 Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, at the Pentagon. Following that assignment he was selected for the Army’s School for Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Military Operational Art and Science. Afterwards, Colonel Lamarand served as the Commander of the 451st Flying Training Squadron leading the effort to improve training and warfighting readiness for Combat Systems Officers. Next, he spent a year as the Strategy Plans Chief at the 609th AOC, Al Udeid AB, Qatar advising the Combined Forces Air Component Commander on strategy and plans. After deploying, Col Lamarand graduated from Air War College with academic distinction earning a Master of Strategic Studies degree.
Colonel Lamarand is a Master Combat Systems Officer with over 2,000 hours in the T-34, T-1, T-39, and B-52. He is married to the former Nathalie Miller of Hot Springs, Arkansas and has two daughters, Kamryn and Eva.
EDUCATION
2000 BA Political Science, Eastern Michigan University
2007 Squadron Officers School
2008 USAF Weapons School
2011 Defense Language Institute, Monterey California
2012 Master’s Degree Military Operational Art/Science, Air University
2012 Master’s Degree National Security Studies, Naval Post Graduate School
2014 Joint Professional Military Education II
2016 Master’s Degree, US Army School For Advanced Military Studies
2021 Master’s Degree, Strategic Studies, Air War College
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 2000-2002 Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola, FL
2. 2002-2003 Navigator, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
3. 2003-2005 Radar Navigator, SELO, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
4. 2005-2006 Instructor Radar Navigator, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
5. 2006-2007 Flight Commander, Training, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
6. 2007 Executive Officer, 2 Operations Group, Barksdale AFB, LA
7. 2008 Student, USAF Weapons School, Barksdale AFB, LA
8. 2008-2009 Flight Commander, Nuclear Plans & Operations, 2 Operations Support Squadron
9. 2008-2209 Flight Commander Weapons & Tactics, 2 Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
10. 2009-2010 Assistant Director of Operations, 2 Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
11. 2011 Student, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, CA
11. 2012 Student, Naval Post-Graduate School, Monterey, CA
12. 2013-2015 Political-Military Affairs Strategist, Joint Staff J5 Western Hemisphere Affairs, Pentagon
13. 2015-2016 Student, School For Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth, KS
14. 2017-2019 Commander 451 FTS. NAS Pensacola, FL
15. 2019-2020 Chief Strategy Plans, 609 AOC, Al Udeid, Qatar
16. 2020-2021 Student, Air War College
17. 2021-2022 AFGSC A5P Capability Development Division Chief
18. 2022-Present Commander, 2d Operations Group
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Combat Systems Officer
Flight hours: More than 2,000
Aircraft flown: T-34C, T-1A, T-39N/G, B-52H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
Humanitarian Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 30, 2000
First Lieutenant April 30, 2002
Captain April 30, 2004
Major November 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2015
Colonel May 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2022)