Col. Ryan Simpson is the commander of the 28th Operations Group, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. He commands the largest operational B-1B group in the U.S. Air Force with one operational support squadron, two bomb squadrons and operations of the Powder River Training Complex.
Col. Simpson graduated from the Air Force Academy in June 2004 with a degree in Astronautical Engineering. He completed pilot training in June 2006 and performed a variety of home-station and deployed positions including Squadron Weapons Officer, Wing Weapons Officer, and U.S. Air Force Weapons School Instructor. He also served as the principal manager and advisor to the commander, U.S. Pacific Air Forces regarding Continuous Bomber Presence and Theater Security Package fighter support. His later assignments include Director of Operations for the 77th Weapons Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas and commander of the 455th Flying Training Squadron at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Prior to his current position, he was the Special Access Programs and Advanced Weapons Division Chief for the Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
Col. Simpson is a command pilot with more than 3,300 flying hours, including 1,900 combat hours over the span of five deployments to U.S. Central Command in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Freedom's Sentinel, Resolute Support, and Inherent Resolve.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science, Astronautical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2011 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air Command and Staff College by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Master of Science, Computer Science, American Sentinel University, Aurora, Colo.
2021 Air War College by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2004 - May 2005, Mobility Officer, 55th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
- May 2005 - June 2006, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 87th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
- June 2006 - March 2007, Student, B-1 Pilot Initial Qualification Course, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
- March 2007 - September 2013, B-1 Pilot, Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, Evaluator Pilot, Squadron Weapons Officer, and Assistant Director of Operations, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
(January 2008 - July 2008, B-1 Pilot, 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
(July 2009 - January 2010, B-1 Aircraft Commander, 37th EBS, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
(January 2011 - April 2011, B-1 Instructor Pilot, 37th EBS, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
(July 2012 - January 2013, B-1 Squadron Weapons Officer, 37th EBS, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
- September 2013 - June 2016, Weapons School Instructor, and standardization and evaluation flight examiner, 77th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Dyess AFB, Texas
(April 2015 - October 2015, Wing Weapons Officer, 379th Operational Support Squadron, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
- June 2016 - June 2019, Chief of Bomber Operations and Deputy Branch Chief, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
- June 2019 - April 2021, Director of Operations, 77th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Dyess AFB, Texas
- April 2021 - June 2022, Chief of Advanced Programs, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas
- July 2022 - June 2024, Commander, 455th Flying Training Squadron, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
- August 2024 - June 2026, Division Chief of Advanced Programs, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
- June 2026 - Present, Commander, 28th Operations Group, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,300
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-38, and B-1
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2009 ACC Flight Line Safety Award of Distinction and 12 AF Chief of Safety Aircrew of Distinction
2010 B-1 Flight Instructor Course Distinguished Graduate
2011 B-1 Weapons Instructor Course Flying Award
2012 Air Combat Command Operational Flying Weapons Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2006
Captain June 2, 2008
Major September 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2019
Colonel November 1, 2025
Current as of JUNE 2026