# Bradley Heithold

Lieutenant General Bradley A. Heithold is a retired United States Air Force officer who served as Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command. He also was the Commander of the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency (AFISRA) until July 19, 2011 when he handed command to Major General Robert Otto. Heithold then became Vice Commander, United States Special Operations Command. As AFISRA Commander, Heithold's duties included providing multi-source ISR products, applications, capabilities and resources, as well as information operations forces and expertise.

## Education

1981 Bachelor's degree in physics, University of Arkansas, AR
1986 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL. 1991 Master of Public Administration degree, Troy State University, AL. 1995 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL. 1998 National Defense Fellow, Florida International University, Miami, FL 1999 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.

## Military career

Heithold entered the United States Air Force in 1974 and spent three years at Holloman AFB, New Mexico as an F-4D avionics technician. From there, he was commissioned in 1981 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at the University of Arkansas. Heithold has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels, including the 451st Air Expeditionary Group in Southwest Asia. Staff assignments include positions on the Air Staff and a unified command staff. He was at Air Force Special Operations Command Headquarters, Hurlburt Field, Florida, where he was Director of Plans, Programs, Requirements and Assessments. Heithold is a master navigator with more than 3,400 flight hours in the C-130, AC-130H, MC-130P and HC-130P.

## Awards and decorations

* Master Navigator Badge
* Master Intelligence Badge
* Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
* Headquarters Air Force Badge
* Defense Distinguished Service Medal
* Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
* Defense Superior Service Medal
* Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
* Bronze Star Medal
* Defense Meritorious Service Medal
* Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf cluster
* Aerial Achievement Medal
* Air Force Commendation Medal
* Army Commendation Medal
* Joint Meritorious Unit Award
* Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
* Combat Readiness Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Good Conduct Medal
* National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
* Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
* Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
* Armed Forces Service Medal
* Humanitarian Service Medal with one bronze service star
* Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame
* Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
* NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon
* Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
* Air Force Training Ribbon
* NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia

## Promotions

Second Lieutenant May 27, 1981
First Lieutenant Aug. 5, 1983
Captain Aug. 5, 1985
Major May 1, 1993 Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 1997 Colonel April 1, 2000 Brigadier General Sept. 2, 2006
Major General Dec. 9, 2008 Lieutenant General Jul. 19, 2011
    Source: Air Force biography