Colonel Erick D. Lord is the Deputy Commander, 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. He 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. He 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 Lord received his commission from the United States Air Force Officer Training School as a Distinguished Graduate in 2003. He first served in various B-1 flying positions, and last commanded the 9th Bomb Squadron, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. His staff experience includes operations and programming positions within the Headquarters Air Force, the Joint Staff, and a fellowship with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Colonel Lord is a Master Navigator with over 2,600 hours, including combat over Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM,
FREEDOM'S SENTINEL, and INHERENT RESOLVE.
Before his current assignment, Colonel Lord was the Chief, Operations, Training, and Standards Division, Deputy Directorate for Nuclear and Homeland Defense Operations, Joint Staff J-3, Washington, District of Columbia.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management and Leadership, Friends University, Wichita, KS
2008 Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, Norwich University, Northfield, VT
2010 Squadron Officer School (Distinguished Graduate), Maxwell AFB, AL
2013 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence)
2015 Air Force Strategic Policy Fellowship, Air Force Research Institute, Washington, D.C.
2020 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, National Defense University, Ft. Lesley McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2003 – April 2005, Distinguished Graduate, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL
2. April 2005 – August 2005, Combat Systems Officer Electronic Warfare Course, Randolph Air Force Base, TX
3. August 2005 – August 2006, B-1B Initial Qualification Course, Dyess AFB, TX
4. August 2006 – September 2010, Squadron Tactics Officer, Flight Commander, and Evaluator Weapon Systems Officer,
37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD
5. September 2010 – August 2011, B-1B Formal Training Unit Instructor, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX
6. August 2011 – May 2013, 7th Bomb Wing Executive Officer, Dyess AFB, TX
7. May 2013 – June 2014, Assistant Director of Operations, 9th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX
8. June 2014 – June 2015, Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow, Secretary of Defense Office of Net Assessment and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Investigative Division, Washington, D.C.
9. June 2015 – May 2016, Chief, Mobility Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management
and Comptroller, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
10. May 2016 – May 2017, Deputy Chief, Program Integration Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans, Programs, and
Requirements, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. July 2017 – May 2019, Commander, 9th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX
12. May 2019 – July 2019, Deputy Commander, 7th Operations Group, Dyess AFB, TX
13. July 2019 – June 2020, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Ft. Lesley McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2020 – January 2021, Joint Force Readiness Branch Chief, Joint Staff, J-35, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. January 2021 – April 2022, Executive Assistant to the Vice Director for Operations, J-3, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. May 2022 – June 2023, Chief, Operations, Training and Standards Division, J-36, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
17. June 2023 – Present, Deputy Commander, 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, LA
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2020 – January 2021, Joint Force Readiness Branch Chief, Joint Staff, J-35, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a
lieutenant colonel
2. January 2021 – April 2022, Executive Assistant to the Vice Director for Operations, J-3, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a
lieutenant colonel
3. May 2022 – June 2023, Chief, Operations, Training and Standards Division, J-36, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 2,600, including 1,657 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: T-6, T-1, T-39, T-43, B-1B, and B-52H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2009 Twelfth Air Force Operational Flying Instructor of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant September 2003
First Lieutenant September 2005
Captain September 2007
Major December 2013
Lieutenant Colonel December 2016
Colonel April 2022
(Current as of September 2023)