Col Donatelli is the Deputy Commander, Eighth Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. As a Numbered Air Force of Air Force Global Strike Command, Eighth Air Force provides long-range strike and strategic deterrence to combatant commanders worldwide. The “Mighty Eighth" is responsible for the service’s bomber force as well as its airborne nuclear command and control assets, encompassing approximately 24,000 Airmen across six installations, and operating more than 150 E-4, B-1, B-2, B-52, and T-38 aircraft.
Colonel Donatelli is a 2000 Distinguished Graduate of Reserve Officer Training Corps from Louisiana State University. He qualified in the B-52H and was assigned to the 20th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale AFB, LA where he deployed in support of PACAF’s Continuous Bomber Presence and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He then completed the United States Air Force Weapons School as a Distinguished Graduate. Col Donatelli led Weapons and Tactics and then was the Assistant Director of Operations in the 2d Operations Support Squadron before joining the Air Force Global Strike Commander’s Action Group and serving as the Executive Officer to the Vice Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. He graduated from both Air Command and Staff College and the School for Advanced Air and Space Studies. Col Donatelli commanded the 608th Strategic Operations Squadron, later served as Deputy Commander of the Joint Nuclear Operations Center, and then served as Air Force Global Strike Command Chief, Senior Leader Management Division. Prior to assuming his current position, he was the Commander, 608th Air Operations Center.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La.
2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base Ala.
2007 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Master of Philosophy, Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2000 – November 2000, Scheduler, 9th Special Operation Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
2. December 2000 – December 2002, Student Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla., then Student Electronic Warfare School, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. January 2003 – September 2003, Student, B-52H Formal Training Unit, Barksdale AFB, La.
4. August 2003 – June 2007, B-52H Electronic Warfare Officer, Instructor Electronic Warfare Officer, and Flight Commander, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
5. July 2007 – December 2007, Student, United States Air Force Weapons School, Barksdale AFB, La.
6. February 2008 – June 2011, Combat Crew Communications Flight Commander, Weapons and Tactics Flight Commander, and Assistant Director of Operations, 2d Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
7. July 2011 – May 2012, Executive Action Officer, Commander’s Action Group, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
8. June 2012 – July 2013, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
9. August 2013 – June 2014, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2014 – June 2015, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. Jul 2015 – November 2016, Director of Operations, 340th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Barksdale AFB, La.
12. November 2016 – November 2018, Commander, 608th Strategic Operations Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
13. November 2018 – July 2019, Deputy Commander, Joint Nuclear Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, La.
14. July 2019 – August 2020, Deputy Director, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, La.
15. August 2020 – August 2021, Chief, Senior Leader Management Division, Barksdale AFB, La.
16. August 2021 – June 2022, Chief, Strategy Division, 608th Air Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, La.
17. June 2022 – June 2024, Commander 608th Air Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, La.
18. June 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander Eighth Air Force, Barksdale AFB, La.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: master navigator
Flight Hours: more than 1800, including 368 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: B-52H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 18, 2000
First Lieutenant June 15, 2002
Captain July 15, 2004
Major May 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel September 1, 2015
Colonel April 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2024)