Colonel David R. Siemion is the Deputy Commander of the 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard, Jacksonville, Florida. As the Deputy Commander, he assists and advises the Wing Commander in training, welfare, and combat readiness of more than 1,650 Airmen at seven locations supporting federal and state missions. He manages over $900 million in assets including 15 F-15C air superiority fighters, joint communications equipment, and counter-communications space equipment.
Col Siemion received his commission and a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering in 2002 upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He has served in a variety of operational fighter assignments in Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, and Pacific Air Forces. He was an instructor and evaluator F-15C pilot at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan before transitioning from the active-duty Air Force to the Florida Air National Guard in 2013. Prior to his current position, he served as the 125th Fighter Wing Headquarters Staff Section Commander, Flight Commander in the 159th Fighter Squadron, the 125th Operations Group Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, the 125th Fighter Wing Chief of Safety and the Wing Project Officer for an aviation package alert site validation in Goose Bay, Canada. He attended the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where he earned a Master of Strategic Studies.
Col Siemion is a command pilot with over 2902.6 hours in the T-6, T-38, and F-15C/D/J. He has 25 combat and combat support hours in the F-15C. He deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Operation NEW DAWN, Operation ATLANTIC RESOLVE, and flown numerous Homeland Defense missions in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE. He is also employed as a pilot with a major U.S. airline.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Masters in Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
2017 Air National Guard Commanders Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2019 Army War College, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Penn.
2019 Master in Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Penn.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Aug 2002 – Feb 2003, Student Pilot, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Training, Moody AFB, Ga.
2. Feb 2003 – Sep 2003, Student, Pilot, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Training, Colombus AFB, Miss.
3. Nov 2003 – Feb 2004, Pilot, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody AFB, Ga.
4. Feb 2004 – Aug 2004, Pilot, F-15C/D Basic Qualification Course, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
5. Sep 2004 – Feb 2007, 4-Shop Flight Lead, Duty Scheduler, Maintenance Liaison Officer, F-15C Demonstration Team Safety Observer Pilot, and Life Support Officer, 94th Fighter Squadron and 71st Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
6. Feb 2007 – Apr 2010, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Chief of Training, Flight Commander, Chief of F-15 Academics, and Standardization Evaluation Flight Examiner, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
7. Apr 2010 – Aug 2013, F-15C Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, Assistant Director of Operations, 67th Fighter Squadron, 18th Operation Group, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan
8. Sep 2013 – Jun 2016, Flight Commander, 159th Fighter Squadron, Jacksonville, Fla.
9. Jun 2016 – Jul 2018, Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, 125th Operations Group, Jacksonville, Fla.
10. Jul 2018 – Jun 2019, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Penn.
11. Jun 2019 – Jul 2020, Chief of Safety, 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville, Fla.
12. Jul 2020 – Apr 2022, Commander, 125th Fighter Wing Headquarters Staff Section, Jacksonville, Fla.
13. Apr 2022- Present, Deputy Commander, 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 2938.7
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-38, and F-15C/D/J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Small Arm Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with 1 device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Bolder with 1 device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with 1 device
AF Legacy Service Award with 2 devices
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 8 devices
Meritorious Unit Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant, May 29, 2004
Captain, May 29, 2006
Major, Apr 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel, Oct 27, 2016
Colonel, Sept. 11, 2023
(Current as of March 2024)