Lieutenant Colonel Bradford Wade

LtCol Bradford W. Wade is the Commander of the 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron, 53d Test and Evaluation Group, 53d Wing, Creech AFB, NV. The squadron conducts operational test on the MQ-9 Reaper weapons system. Supporting higher headquarters test priorities, the squadron integrates new technology for Remotely Piloted Aircraft and delivers, and trains warfighters to new capabilities and tactics.

Lieutenant Colonel Wade entered the Air Force in 2008 after receiving his commission from the United States Air Force Academy. Lieutenant Colonel Wade is a Senior Pilot with more than 1,800 hours in the MQ-9 and MQ-1, including over 120 combat support sorties supporting Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Operation NEW DAWN and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. His flying assignments include 37th Flying Training Squadron, Training Squadron 31, 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, 29th Attack Squadron, 42d Attack Squadron, 62d Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, 432d Operational Support Squadron, 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, 26th Weapons Squadron, 867th Attack Squadron and 732d Operational Support Squadron. He is a 2015 graduate of the USAF Weapons School and a 2022 graduate of the United States Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course. During his assignment to Creech AFB, NV, Lieutenant Colonel Wade held various positions including squadron flight commander, wing weapons MQ-9 branch chief and Assistant Chief of 432 Air Expeditionary Wing Weapons. Lieutenant Colonel Wade was the Chief of Scheduling for the 26th Weapons Squadron, coordinating 3 syllabi, scheduling 340 hours of academics and 504 mission sorties to graduate 28 Weapons Officers. As the executive officer for the USAF Weapons School Lieutenant Colonel Wade led the administrative efforts for 19 squadrons with over 250 assigned instructors to provide graduate level advanced flying tactics and cross-domain integration training for selected officers and enlisted personnel in 28 career fields. Lieutenant Colonel Wade was the Aide-de-Camp for the Commander Air Combat Command, where he coordinated and led the administrative and travel efforts for visits to 48 locations worldwide. Lieutenant Colonel Wade was a team lead and ADO in the 867th Attack Squadron, where he led 54 aircrew in the execution of counter-terrorism missions while ensuring successful completion of instructor and mission qualification upgrades. As the Chief of Group Operations, 732d Operations Group, Lieutenant Colonel Wade was responsible for the implementation and management of all 732d Group syllabi and academics as well as ensuring the scheduling and deconfliction of training simulators and sorties. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Director of Operations for the 17th Attack Squadron, responsible for 325 Total Force Airman in 24/7 combat operations ensuring implementation and management of all 732d Group syllabi and academics as well as ensuring the scheduling and deconfliction of training simulators, local sorties and combat sorties.