Col David R. Wright is the 175th Wing Deputy Commander, Martin State Airport, Baltimore, Maryland. The 175th Wing has over 1,400 personnel supporting and A-10 Operations Group, a Cyber Operations Group and an Intelligence Squadron.  In this role, he is responsible for the combat readiness of 21 A-10C aircraft, the associated aircrew and aircraft maintainers.  Col Wright oversees a budget in excess of $46 million in addition to $37 million in base infrastructure and real property.

Col Wright was commissioned from the USAF Academy in May 2000 and attended pilot training at Laughlin AFB, TX, where he graduated in Feb 2001. He attended F-15C training at Tyndall AFB, FL where he was the Top Graduate in March of 2003. Col Wright’s first assignment was at Kadena AB, Japan, then, as part of the Total Force Absorption Program (TFAP), he was assigned to the 159 FW, Louisiana ANG, as an active duty F-15C pilot in Jan 2006. During this assignment, Col Wright was selected as the first ever TFAP pilot to attend the USAF Fighter Weapons School, where he graduated in Jul 2008. Col Wright then became Weapons Officer for the 19 FS, Elmendorf AFB, AK, before transitioning to the F-22 in Jan 2009.  He then became the first F-22 Weapons Officer for the newly stood-up 525 FS, Elmendorf AFB, AK. 

After serving as the 3 WG Weapons Officer, Col Wright transitioned to the LA ANG, 159 FW, where he served as the Wing Weapons Officer. After serving as the Assistant Director of Operations, then the Director of Operations, Col Wright transitioned to the National Guard Bureau. During his time at NGB, Col Wright served at multiple levels to include branch chief, division chief and deputy director, interacting and operating at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. Col Wright is a command pilot with over 1800 hours in the F-15C, F-22 and A-10C. Prior to accepting his current position, the Col served as the Commander, 175^th Maintenance Group, Martin State Airport, Baltimore, Maryland.

EDUCATION

2000 Bachelor of Science, US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.

2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.

2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2008 United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.

2011 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence

2011 Master of Military Operational Arts and Science, Air University, by correspondence

2016 Air War College, Air University, by correspondence

2017 National Leadership Preparedness Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.

2021 Commander’s Development Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. August 2000–February 2001, Casual Lt/Assistant Scheduler, 27 FS, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
2. February 2001–March 2002, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. March 2002–May 2002, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 49 FTS, Moody AFB, Ga.
4. June 2002–March 2003, F-15C Formal Training Unit, 2 FS, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
5. March 2003–December 2005, F-15C Pilot, Squadron Scheduler, Asst. Chief of Weapons, 44 FS, Kadena Air Base, Japan
6. January 2006–January 2008, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Asst. Chief of Weapons, 122 FS, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La.
7. January 2008–July 2008, F-15C Weapons Instructor Course, 433 FS, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. July 2008–December 2008, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 19 FS, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
9. January 2008–April 2009, F-22 Formal Training Unit, 43 FS, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
10. April 2009–July 2010, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 525 FS, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
11. July 2010–December 2011, Wing Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 3 WG, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
12. January 2012–October 2013, Wing Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 159 FW, NASJRB NOLA, La.
13. October 2013–October 2014, Assistant Director of Operations, 122 FS, NASJRB NOLA, La.
14. October 2014–August 2015, Director of Operations, 122 FS, NASJRB NOLA, La.
15. August 2015–April 2016, Chief Plans and Exercises Branch, NGB/A236, Andrews AFB, Md.
16. April 2016–June 2018, Chief Combat Air Forces Branch, NGB/A236, Andrews AFB, Md.
17. June 2018–September 2020, Chief Combat Air Forces Division, NGB/A236, Andrews AFB, Md.
18. September 2020–March 2024, Commander, 175th Maintenance Group, Warfield Air National Guard Base, Baltimore, Md.
19. March 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, 175th Wing, Warfield Air National Guard Base, Baltimore, Md.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal with 1 bronze oak leaf cluster

Air Force Commendation Meal with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant May 31, 2000

First Lieutenant May 31, 2002

Captain May 31, 2006

Major Feb. 1, 2010

Lieutenant Colonel April, 29 2014

Colonel July 16, 2018

(Effective as of April 2024)