Colonel John E. Burrell is the Commander of the 5th Operations Group, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota where he trains disciplined, combat-ready Airmen and develops Air Force leaders, who supply B-52s while operating the world’s premier strategic airfield to provide lethal bomber firepower anytime, anywhere.
Colonel Burrell received his commission from Officer Training School in 2003. After commissioning, he attended Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at NAS Whiting Field, FL and Vance AFB, OK flying both the T-34C and T- 38C aircraft. Following the B-52H Pilot Initial Qualification Course in 2006, he has served as an Aircraft Commander, Instructor and Evaluator Pilot and National Laboratory Technical Fellow. He has led in various positions including Flight Commander, United States Air Force Weapons School Instructor, Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, Assistant Director of Operations, served as the Executive Officer to the Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command and the 23d Bomb Squadron Commander. Colonel Burrell served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and Operation Inherent Resolve with operational experience including multiple deployments to the Central and Pacific theaters of operation. He is a Command Pilot with over 3,300 hours of flight time in the B-52H, T-38C and T-34C with over 270 combat hours. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Nuclear Operations Division Chief responsible for standardization of Nuclear Command and Control operations, policy, and Nuclear Surety across the National Military Command System.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL 2007 Masters in Business Administration, Touro University, Cypress, CA
2009 Squadron Officer School (Non-Residence), Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL 2010 Squadron Officer School (In-Residence), Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 United States Air Force Weapons School, B-52 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV 2013 Air Command and Staff College (Non-Residence), Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 Program for Emerging Leaders, Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, National Defense Univ. 2017 Air Force Fellow, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Department of Energy, Livermore, CA 2021 Masters of Science, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2003 – May 2004, Student Pilot, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, NAS Whiting, FL
2. May 2004 – April 2005, Student Pilot, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, OK
3. April 2005 – February 2006, Student Pilot, B-52, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
4. February 2006 – August 2010, Weapons and Tactics Pilot, Executive Officer, Assistant Flight Commander and Flight Commander, B-52, 23d Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, ND
5. August 2010 – January 2013, B-52 Instructor Pilot/Chief of Weapons & Tactics, Assistant Director of Operations for Tactics and Training 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
6. January 2013 – August 2014, USAF Weapons School Instructor Pilot, Chief, Standardizations & Evaluations and Assistant Director of Operations, Operations Support 340th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Barksdale AFB, LA
7. August 2014 – November 2015, Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, LA
8. November 2015 – July 2016, Chief, Bomber Weapons Requirements Branch, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, LA
9. July 2016 – June 2017, Air Force Fellow, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Department of Energy, Livermore, CA
10. June 2017 – May 2018, Assistant Director of Operations, Conventional Plans, 5th Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, ND
11. May 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 23d Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, ND
12. June 2020 – June 2021, SDE Student, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort McNair, D.C.
13. June 2021 – April 2023, Branch Chief, Procedures and Assessments, Nuclear Operations Division, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA
14. April 2023 – June 2024, Chief, Nuclear Operations Division, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA
15. June 2024 - Present, Commander, 5th Operations Group, Minot AFB, ND
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
June 2021 – June 2024, Chief, Nuclear Operations Division, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA, as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,300 including more than 270 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: T-34C, T-38C and B-52H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant August 8, 2003
First Lieutenant August 8, 2005
Captain August 8, 2007
Major November 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2017
Colonel August 1, 2023
(Current as of June 2024)