Col Jack W. Rhodes III is Commander, 804th Test Group, Arnold Engineering Development Complex. The Group employs nearly 2,000 people, supports and executes ground and flight test activities, and develops, sustains, and operates more than 35 test facilities across locations in five states. With facilities at Arnold Air Force Base in middle Tennessee, with operating locations at Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California; Peterson SFB, Colorado; Eglin AFB, Florida; the Federal Research Center at White Oak, Maryland, and Hill AFB, Utah, the Group‘s suite of test capabilities simulate speed, temperature, pressure and other parameters to meet the needs of developers for a wide range of aerospace systems, from rotary wing aircraft to high-performance fighter, bomber, and airlift aircraft; unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles; intercontinental ballistic missiles; hypersonic systems and spacecraft.
Prior to taking command of the 804th Test Group Colonel Rhodes served as the Chief, V-22 Air Force Programs in the V-22 Joint Program Office, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland. He led over 200 joint personnel to develop, field, and sustain the CV-22 fleet supporting United States Special Operations Command.
Colonel Rhodes earned his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 2003. He first served as an Air Battle Manager on the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) then cross-trained as a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot. Colonel Rhodes is an Air Force Test Pilot School graduate and led developmental testing for MQ-1B and MQ-9 aircraft. He also served in acquisition program management roles supporting Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and as the Materiel Leader for Advanced Technology in the Special Programs Division at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts.
Colonel Rhodes is a command remotely piloted aircraft pilot and air battle manager with 735 combat hours and 1,735 combat support hours in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and ODYSSEY DAWN.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2003 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ga.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2014 Master of Science, Flight Test Engineering, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Calif.
2020 The Program Managers Course, Defense Acquisition University
2023 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2024 Master of Biblical and Theological Studies with Honors, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas.
ASSIGNMENTS
May 2003 – February 2004, Operations Superintendent, 728th Air Control Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
February 2004 – February 2005, Student, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
March 2005 – October 2009, E-8C JSTARS Instructor/Evaluator Air Weapons Officer, Robins AFB, Ga.
October 2009 – May 2013, MQ-1B Instructor Pilot, MQ-9 Pilot, Creech AFB, Nev.
June 2013 – June 2014, Student, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
July 2014 – June 2017, MQ-1B/MQ-9 Instructor/Evaluator Test Pilot, Gray Butte Flight Test Facility, Calif.
June 2017 – June 2019, Deputy Program Manager, Military Global Positioning Systems (GPS) User Equipment Increment 1, GPS Directorate, Space and Missiles System Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
June 2019 – June 2022, Materiel Leader, Advanced Technology Branch, Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, and Networks (C3I&N) Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
July 2022 – May 2023, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
June 2023 – Jul 2024, CV-22 Integration Lead, V-22 Joint Program Office, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md.
August 2024 – present, Chief, V-22 AF Programs, V-22 Joint Program Office, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot, Air Battle Manager
Flight hours: More than 3,200
Aircraft flown: E-8C, MQ-1B, MQ-9, and over 20 other aircraft types
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with fourteen oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 Distinguished graduate, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Training
2005 Distinguished graduate, E-8 Air Battle Manager Qualification Training
2009 Distinguished graduate, MQ-1B Initial Qualification Training|
2011 Distinguished graduate, MQ-9 Formal Training Unit
2019 Black Engineer of the Year Award – Modern Day Technology Leader
2020 C3I&N Directorate Acquisition Category II Program Manager of the Year
2021 Air Force Materiel Command Military Communications & IT Professional of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2003
First Lieutenant May 28, 2005
Captain May 28, 2007
Major July 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2018
Colonel August 1, 2024
(Current as of July 2025)