Colonel Chris G. Cain is the Commander, 2d Bomb Wing, at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. He is responsible for providing B-52H combat aircraft, crews, and associated support to conduct global conventional or nuclear operations. As Barksdale’s installation commander, he supports Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Headquarters Eighth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command’s 307th Bomb Wing, and 32 tenant units. He promotes the welfare of more than 11,400 military and civilian personnel, 6,300 family members, and 25,000 retirees.
Colonel Cain entered the Air Force as a Distinguished Graduate of Officer Training School. He has led nuclear operations in support of USSTRATCOM and global strike for combatant commanders across the globe. He deployed to INDOPACOM as part of the Continuous Bomber Presence and deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He has led combat operations as both an Operations Officer and Commander during Operation INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM SENTINEL.
Prior to his current position, Colonel Cain served as the Air Force Global Strike Command’s Deputy Inspector General at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, where he was responsible for conducting fair, independent, impartial, and professional inspections, and complaints resolution across the command.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Arts in History, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La.
2007 Weapons Instructor Course, Barksdale AFB, La.
2008 Squadron Officer School, resident and non-resident (Top Third Graduate), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Business Administration, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.
2013 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, resident and non-resident course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Federal Nuclear Expertise Course, Dept of Energy, Lawrence Livermore NL, Calif.
2019 National Defense Fellow, Department of State, Washington, D.C.
2022 Joint Professional Military Education II, Norfolk, Va.
2024 Enterprise Leadership Perspective Seminar, A. Freed and Associates, Washington, D.C.
2024 Senior Leader Nuclear Management, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 2001– September 2002, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2. September 2002 – April 2003, B-52 formal training unit, Navigator, Barksdale AFB, La.
3. May 2003 – December 2007, 96th Bomb Squadron, Navigator, Adjutant then Instructor Navigator and Flight Scheduler, Barksdale AFB, La.
4. January 2008 – July 2009, 20th Bomb Squadron, Assistant then Weapons and Tactics Flight Commander, Barksdale AFB, La.
5. July 2009 – January 2010, 2d Operations Support Squadron, Group Plans Flight Commander, Barksdale AFB, La.
6. February 2010 – January 2011, Air Force Global Strike Command, A1, Assistant Chief, Senior Leader Management, Barksdale AFB, La.
7. January 2011– June 2012, Air Force Global Strike Command, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander, Barksdale AFB, La.
8. July 2012- June 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. June 2013- April 2015, Chief, Bomber, Nuclear Programs and S & T, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
10. May 2015-August 2015, B-52 Formal Training Unit, Requalification WSO, Barksdale AFB, La.
11. September 2015-June 2016, Operations Officer, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
12. June 2016-June 2018, Commander, 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
13. June 2018-May 2019, National Defense Fellow, Department of State, Washington, D.C.
14. May 2019-May 2021, Special Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. June 2021-June 2022, Branch Chief, Operations in the Information Environment, Information Integration Div., DD-Strategic Stability, J5, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. June 2022 – June 2024, Commander, 5th Operations Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
17. June 2024 – July 2025, Deputy Inspector General, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
18. July 2025 – Present, Commander, 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2019-May 2021, Special Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
2. June 2021-June 2022, Branch Chief, Operations in the Information Environment, Information Integration Div., DD-Strategic Stability, J5, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: More than 2,800 including more than 300 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-43, T-1A, B-52H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with one bronze star
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2018 General Walker Award “Best Bomb Squadron”
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant Nov.15, 2001
First Lieutenant Nov. 15, 2003
Captain Nov. 15, 2005
Major Nov. 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 2016
Colonel April 1, 2021
(Current as of May 2025)