Colonel Brian Leiter is the deputy commander of the 442d Fighter Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The 442d FW is an Air Force Reserve A-10 Thunderbolt II unit. As deputy commander, he is responsible for the manning, training and combat readiness for approximately 1,300 Air Force reservists at Whiteman AFB and one geographically separated unit: the 476th Fighter Group at Moody AFB, Ga..
Leiter started his Air Force career as an enlisted member in the 442d Maintenance Group, Whiteman AFB, MO as an A-10 maintenance crew chief. He served as traditional reservist while earning his bachelor’s degree. Upon completion, the colonel earned his commission through Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., in 1999. He has served as Inspector General for Inspections at the Wing level and Wing Inspection Team Chief at the Group level. Additionally, he has served as Commander of the 442d Operations Support Flight, Assistant Director of Operations, Chief of Scheduling and Training at the Squadron level. Prior to his current position he was an Individual Mobilization Augmentee to Chief, Combat Operations Division, 613th Air Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science in Aerodynamics and Aviation Technology, Central Missouri State University, Mo.
2004 Air to Ground Operations School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2006 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Masters of Arts, Military Science, American Military University, Manassas, Va.
2016 Air War College, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September - November 1996, Trainee, 3708th Basic Military Training Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. November 1996 - February 1997, Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice, 362d Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. February 1997 - May 1999, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, 303d Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
4. May - August 1999, Student Officer Trainee, 22d Training Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
5. August 1999 - August 2000, Student Pilot, 25th Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
6. August 2000 - January 2001, Student Pilot, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 451st Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
7. January 2001 - Jul y2001, A-10 Student Pilot, 357th Fighter Squadron, Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz.
8. July 2001 - April 2002, A-10 Pilot / Stan/Eval Officer, 303d Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
9. April 2002 - March 2004, Chief of Training, 303d Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo. (Deployed March - November 2003, A-10 Pilot / Mission Planner, 303d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron)
10. March 2004 - March 2005, Assistant Weapons and Tactics, 303d Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
11. March 2005 - October 2007, Chief Mission Planning, 303d Fighter Squadron Whiteman AFB, Mo. (Deployed July - October 2006, Chief Mission Planning, 303d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron)
12. October 2007 - June 2012, A-10 Instructor Pilot/Chief of Scheduling, 303d Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo. (Deployed Chief of Scheduling, May - July 2008, 303d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron / February - May 2012, 47th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron)
13. June 2012 - October 2013, Flight Commander, 303d Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
14. October 2013 - August 2014, Director of Inspections, 442d Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo. (Deployed March - October 2014, Director of Inspections, 303d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron)
15. August 2014 - May 2018, Assistant Director of Operations, 303d Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo. (Deployed Assistant Director of Operations, January - May 2018, 303d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron)
16. May 2018 - December 2019, Commander, 442d Operation Support Flight, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
17. December 2019 - April 2021, Deputy Group Commander, 442d Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo. (Deployed Instructor Pilot September - November 2020, 303d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron)
18. April 2021 – November 2023, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to Chief, Combat Operations Division, 613 Air Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii
19. November 2023 – Present, Deputy Commander, 442d Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 3400, including 780 combat hours Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, OA-10, A-10A, A-10A+, A-10C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with fourteen oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with V device and two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with two service stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Lt General Leo Marquez Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class November 1996
Senior Airman February 1999
Staff Sergeant May 1999
Second Lieutenant August 1999
First Lieutenant August 2001
Captain April 2003
Major August 2016
Colonel August 2021
(Current as of December 2023)