Lt Col Evan Valdez is the Test Support Division Chief at Arnold Engineering Development Complex on Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. He executes $100 million in funds and leads 950 military, civilian, and contractor personnel to provide medical, civil engineering, communications, security, logistics, and quality-of-life services at Arnold Air force Base. He is responsible for $11.2 billion in assets to include 300 facilities and forty-thousand acres of developed and undeveloped land and its associated natural resources and historical sites.
Lt Col Valdez graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science. After commissioning through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, he served in a variety of operations research analyst and staff positions. Notable tours include: Commander, 35th Force Support Squadron; Education with Industry student at Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Executive Officer to the Director, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Air Combat Command; and Deputy Chief, Executive Action Group for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. Prior to his current position, Lt Col Valdez was a student at the Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Science, Actuarial Science, University of Texas, Austin, Tex.
2007 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Master of Science, Industrial Engineering, Saint Mary’s University, San Antonio, Tex.
2013 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Phase II, Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va
2026 Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
- February 2007 – June 2010, Chief, Promotions Analysis, Air Force Personnel Center, Joint Base San Antonio Randolph, Tex.
- July 2010 – July 2013, Chief, Analysis Division, 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
- August 2013 – May 2014, Education with Industry Student, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Knoxville, Tenn.
- June 2014 – May 2016, Operations Research Analyst, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, JB Langley-Eustis, Va.
(July 2015 – January 2016, Operations Assessment Analyst, 609th Air Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
- June 2016 – May 2017, Executive Officer, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, JB Langley-Eustis, Va.
- June 2017 – April 2018, Deputy, Scientist Career Field Manager, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
- May 2018 – June 2019, Deputy Chief, Executive Action Group, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
- July 2019 – May 2020, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2020 – June 2022, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Joint Interagency Task Force West, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
- July 2022 – July 2024, Commander, 35th Force Support Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
- July 2024 – June 2025, Deputy Commander, 35th Mission Support Group, Misawa AB, Japan
- July 2025 – June 2026, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2026 – Present, Chief, Test Support Division, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2020 – June 2022, Future Operations Planner and Deputy, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Joint Interagency Task Force West, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii as a Major and Lieutenant Colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant December 28, 2006
First Lieutenant December 28, 2008
Captain December 28, 2010
Major December 1, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2026)