Colonel Jessica Critcher is the Deputy Commander, 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. She assists the Commander in providing for the health and welfare of more than 11,400 military and civilian personnel, 6,300 family members, and 25,000 retirees. She also shares the responsibility for ensuring the 2d Bomb Wing maintains a constant state of readiness to provide flexible and responsive combat capability in support of United States Strategic Command and theater combatant commanders. 

Colonel Critcher received her commission from the United States Air Force Officer Training School. She has served in various B-52 flying positions, and last commanded the 479th Operations Support Squadron, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. Her staff experience includes assignments as a Legislative Liaison for the Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters United States Air Force, Arlington, Virginia and Executive Officer of the Deputy Commander United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Colonel Critcher is a Master Combat Systems Officer with more than 2,100 flight hours including combat in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Prior to this assignment, Colonel Critcher served as the Deputy Commander of the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, whose mission is to safeguard the United States and assure our Allies through global power on demand.

EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Exercise and Sport Science, East Carolina University, N.C.
2002 Masters of Science, Exercise and Sport Science, East Carolina University, N.C.
2009 Weapons Instructor Course, USAF Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2018 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 National Laboratories Technical Fellow, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2003 – February 2005, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas.
2. February 2005 – December 2005, Student, B-52 Initial Qualification Training, Barksdale AFB, La.
3. December 2005 – January 2012, B-52H Electronic Warfare Officer, Standardization/Evaluation EWO, Flight Commander, Weapons and Tactics Instructor, Assistant Director of Operations, Barksdale AFB, La.
4. January 2012 – June 2014, Instructor and Assistant Director of Operations, 340th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
5. June 2014 – June 2015, Student, Command and General Staff Officer College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
6. June 2015 – June 2017, Legislative Liaison to the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. June 2017 – June 2019, T-1 Instructor Combat Systems Officer and Director of Operations, 479th Operations Support Squadron, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
8. June 2019 – July 2021, Commander, 479th Operations Support Squadron, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
9. July 2021 – June 2022, Fellow, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
10. June 2022 – September 2024, Executive Officer to the Deputy Commander USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb.
11. September 2024 – July 2025, Deputy Commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Air Forces Strategic, Barksdale AFB, La. 
12. July 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Combat Systems Officer
Flight hours: More than 2,175
Aircraft: B-52H, T-43, T-1A, T-6

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant August 2003
First Lieutenant August 2005
Captain August 2007
Major November 2013
Lieutenant Colonel July 2018
Colonel April 2024

(Current as of June 2025)