Col Daniel (Dan) W. Shimonsky is the Commander,
91st Operations Group, Minot Air Force Base (AFB), North Dakota. He commands a group of three missile squadrons and an operations support squadron, providing nuclear combat capability to the Commander, United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), in support of national objectives. He is responsible for the safe, secure, and reliable operation of 150 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) dispersed over 8,500 square miles and controlled from 15 remote missile alert facilities in support of a continuous, unhindered global strike capability.
Col Shimonsky entered active duty in May 2004, after commissioning through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Florida. A career missileer, he has served in multiple ICBM operations positions including Crew Commander, Instructor, Weapons and Tactics Planner, Director of Operations and Squadron Commander.
Col Shimonsky is also an Air Education and Training Command Master Instructor and has taught more than 2,000 hours at the ICBM Initial Qualification Course. He has logged more than 300 alerts operating the Minuteman III, Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting-A (REACT-A) weapon system.
Prior to his current position, the colonel served as the Deputy Inspector General, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, where he was responsible for conducting fair, independent, and impartial inspections as well as complaints resolution across the command. Additionally, he was responsible for inquiring and reporting on all matters affecting command readiness, discipline, efficiency, and economy for the commander.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Arts, Criminology, University of Florida, Gainesville
2005 Air and Space Basic Course, in-residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Science, Administration, Central Michigan University, Minot AFB, N.D.
2010 Squadron Officer School, non-residence (2010) and in-residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, non-residence
2025 Air War College, non-residence (2021) and in-residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2025 Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2004 - May 2005, Student, Space 100 and Missile Initial Qualification Training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
2. May 2005 - April 2009, ICBM Combat Crew Deputy Commander, ICBM Combat Crew Commander and ICBM Crew Instructor,
740th Missile Squadron and 91st Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
3. April 2009 - October 2010, Weapons and Tactics Planner, 91st Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
4. October 2010 - August 2014, ICBM Initial Qualification Course Instructor, Instructor Supervisor, and Flight Commander, 392nd Training Squadron and 532nd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
5. August 2014 - January 2018, ICBM Force Employment Planner and Chief, ICBM Strike Team, Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike (JFCC-GS), USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb.
6. January 2018 - July 2020, Assistant Director of Operations and Director of Operations, 741st Missile Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
7. July 2020 - June 2022, Commander, 742nd Missile Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
8. June 2022 - July 2024, Senior Developmental Education (SDE) Fellow Years 1 and 2, Deputy Chair and Department Chair, Global College of Professional Military Education, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. July 2024 - May 2025, SDE Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. May 2025 – June 2026, Deputy Inspector General, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
11. June 2026 – Present, Commander, 91st Operations Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
August 2014 - January 2018, ICBM Force Employment Planner and Chief, ICBM Strike Team, JFCC-GS, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a major
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with ‘N’ Device with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
United States Strategic Command Team of the Year, 2015
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 14, 2004
First Lieutenant May 14, 2006
Captain May 14, 2008
Major April 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 2019
Colonel Jan. 1, 2025
(Current as of June 2026)