Col Daniel M. Alford 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 Alford graduated from Florida State University and received his commission in 2001. He completed Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida in 2003 prior to attending the B-1 Formal Training Unit at Dyess AFB, Texas. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, 77th Weapons Squadron B-1 Division where he also instructed. He is a fully qualified Joint Specialty Officer, having completed staff on The Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike, a component of U.S. Strategic Command. Prior to this assignment, he served as commander of the 7th Operations Group, Dyess AFB, Texas. He has completed five deployments in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM/NEW DAWN, as well as Continuous Bomber Presence missions throughout the Pacific theater.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master Degree in Military Studies, American Military University, Charles Town, W. Va.
2013 Joint Professional Military Education II, Naval Support Activity Norfolk, Va.
2020 Master Degree in Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 RQM 3100, Advanced Concepts and Skills for Requirements Management, Defense Acquisition University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2001 – June 2003, Student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola NAS, Fla.
2. July 2003 – March 2004, Student, B-1 Flight Training Unit, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
3. April 2004 – April 2006, Weapons System Officer, 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
4. May 2006 – November 2006, Scheduling Officer, Instructor WSO, 34 BS, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
5. December 2006 – December 2007, Evaluator Weapons Systems Officer, 28 OG, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
6. January 2008 – December 2008, Chief Evaluator Weapons System Officer, 28 OG, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
7. January 2009 – June 2009, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, 77th Weapons Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
8. June 2009 – January 2011, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 9th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
9. February 2011 – July 2012, Flight Commander, 77th Weapons Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
10. August 2012 – July 2015, J3 Operations Officer, Cruise Missile Support Activity Atlantic, NSA Norfolk, Va.
11. August 2015 – Feb 2016, Assistant Director of Operations, 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
12. March 2016 – May 2017, Director of Operations, 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
13. June 2017 – May 2019, Commander, 23rd Training Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. June 2019 – May 2020, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. June 2020 – July 2021, Branch Chief, Strike System Requirement, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. August 2021 – May 2023, Division Chief, Combat Air Force Requirements Division, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. June 2023 – May 2025, Commander, 7th Operations Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
18. June 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander Eighth Air Force, Barksdale AFB, La.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2012 – July 2015, J3 Operations Officer, Cruise Missile Support Activity, NSA Norfolk, Virginia as a Major
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: more than 2,740, including more than 1,000 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-34C, T-1, T-39, T-43A, B-1B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 23, 2001
First Lieutenant May 23, 2003
Captain May 23, 2005
Major Dec 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2016
Colonel Aug. 1, 2022
(Current as of May 2025)