Colonel David P. Garfield is Commander, 482nd Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. As Wing Commander, he is directly responsible for overall management of the installation, to include a squadron of 29 F-16C/D aircraft. His leadership span of control encompasses over 2,500 Airmen, including 165 active duty Air Force active association personnel; more than 1,700 traditional reservists, over 280 Air Reserve Technicians and over 280 full-time civilians. Additionally, he oversees the seamless integration of 11 tenant units to include the Florida Air National Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team, Headquarters Special Operations Command South and a geographically separated Detachment of 35 Airmen at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
Colonel Garfield graduated from Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla., in 1989. He was a distinguished graduate of ROTC and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force in 1989. He earned his pilot wings in 1991 at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz. He served on active duty from 1990 to 1999 and joined the Air Force Reserve in 1999. His past assignments include serving as a T-38 instructor pilot and flight examiner at both Williams AFB, Ariz., and Columbus AFB, Miss., F-16 pilot and Flight Commander at Shaw AFB, S.C., Director of Operations at the 457th Fighter Squadron, 301st Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. He served as Commander, 944th Operations Group, 944th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, AZ. Prior to his current assignment, he served as Deputy Inspector General,
Team Chief, for the Office of the Inspector General, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science Degree in Aircraft Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla., Cum Laude
2001 Squadron Officer School
2002 Air Command and Staff College
2003 Masters Degree in Aviation/Aerospace Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2007 Air War College
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1990 - February 1991, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. May 1991 - July 1991, student, T-38 Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
3. August 1991 - December 1992, T-38 Instructor Pilot, 99th Flying Training Squadron, Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.
4. January 1993 - May 1995, T-38 Instructor Pilot, 50th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
5. May 1995 - January 1996, T-38 Chief of Standardization Evaluation and Flight Examiner, 14th Operations Group, Columbus AFB, Miss.
6. February 1996 - April 1996, student, Fighter Lead-In Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
7. May 1996 - October 1996, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
8. October 1996 - October 1999, Flight Commander, F-16 pilot, 78th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
9. October 1999 - March 2002, Chief of Scheduling/Training, F-16 Instructor Pilot, 457th Fighter Squadron, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas
10. March 2002 - September 2004, Chief of Standardization Evaluation and Flight Commander, F-16 Instructor Pilot/Flight Examiner, 301st Operations Group, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
11. September 2004 - September 2007, Chief of Safety, F-16 Instructor Pilot/Flight Examiner, 301st Fighter Wing, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
12. September 2007 - August 2009, Director of Operations, F-16 Instructor Pilot/Flight Examiner, 457th Fighter Squadron, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
13. October 2009 - October 2012, Commander, 944th Operations Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
14. October 2012 - September 2015, Deputy Inspector General, Chief, Plans & Execution Division & Team Chief, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
15. September 2015 - present, Commander, 482nd Fighter Wing, Homestead ARB, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,600; 2,800 in the F-16, including 506 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16C/D
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Gallant Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and seven oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air Force Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 'M' Device with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant September 1989
First Lieutenant September 1991
Captain September 1993
Major May 2001
Lieutenant Colonel August 2006
Colonel March 2011
(Current as of September 2015)