Col. Jonathan Sawtelle

Col. Sawtelle is the commander of the 11th Operations Group, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. He is responsible for the United States Air Force Chaplain Corps at Arlington National Cemetery, the Air Force Memorial operations, the United States Air Force Band and the United States Air Force and Space Force Honor Guard, who provide premiere ceremonial and funeral support across the National Capital Region and for senior U.S. and international leaders. He commands approximately 500 chaplains, musicians, ceremonial guardsmen and staff in performing more than 3,100 missions each year. Additionally, he is responsible for a $7.3 million annual operating budget and $67 million in facilities and equipment.

Col. Sawtelle commissioned in 2003 through Air Force ROTC and has completed four deployments to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM – Afghanistan. He served as an Air Staff program element monitor (PEM), executive officer to the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, and as a legislative liaison on Capitol Hill. His squadron command was at Squadron Officer School, investing in nearly 2,000 officers and civilians from every AF career field.

Prior to this assignment, he was the Division Chief, Weather Management, and Career Field Manager, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

EDUCATION

2003 – Bachelor of Science, Atmospheric Sciences, University of North Dakota

2003 - Weather Officer’s Course, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

2004 - Air and Space Basic Course, Squadron Officers College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2008 - Master of Arts, Diplomacy, Norwich University

2010 - Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officers School (In-Residence), Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2014 – Air Force Special Operations Command Mission Commander’s Course

2015 - Air Command and Staff College, CSAF Blue Horizons Elective, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2017 - Service Chief Fellow at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

2018 - Joint and Combined Warfighter Course (JPME-II), Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Va.

2019 - Certificate in Legislative Studies, Georgetown University

2022 - Nuclear Command, Control and Communications, Barksdale AFB, La.

2024 - Air Component Senior Leader Course, 505th Command and Control Wing

ASSIGNMENTS

September 2003 - September 2005, Production Supervisor, European & African Continents, 21st Operational Weather Squadron, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
September 2005 - August 2009, Officer-in-Charge, Special Operations Weather Team, Det. 5, 10th Combat Weather Squadron, Ft. Bragg, N.C.
August 2009 – March 2012, Liaison Officer, Special Operations Weather Team, Operating Location – Alpha, 10th CWS, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
April 2012 – April 2013, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
May 2013 – June 2014, Operations Officer, 10th CWS, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
July 2014 – July 2015, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
June 2015 – April 2016, Program Element Monitor, Air Force Directorate of Weather, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
April 2016 – June 2017, Executive Officer to the Headquarters Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
July 2017 – June 2019, Legislative Liaison, U.S. Special Operations Command Legislative Affairs Office, Washington D.C.
July 2019 – July 2021, Commander, 32d Student Squadron, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
July 2021 – May 2022, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
June 2022 – June 2024, Deputy Division Chief and Agile Combat Employment Lead, Operations Support Division, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
July 2022 – July 2026, Division Chief, Weather Management, Career Field Manager, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
July 2026 – Present, Commander, 11th Operations Group, JBAB, Washington, D.C.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

9. July 2017 – June 2019, Legislative Liaison, U.S. Special Operations Command Legislative Affairs Office, Washington, D.C.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (four oak leaf clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster)
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Gallant Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (two oak leaf clusters)

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2008 Air Force Battlefield Weather CGO of the Year

PUBLICATIONS
“Rethinking Effects Based Operations in Counter Insurgency Operations,” white paper, 2006
“Resilient Effective Adaptable Leadership,” book, Air University Press, 2016
“Setting Leadership Expectations for Degraded Environments,” article, Over The Horizon, 2017
“Opioids: A Dark Allure With Deep National Security Implications,” article, RealClearDefense, 2018

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant         May 2003
First Lieutenant              May 2005
Captain                          May 2007
Major                             October 2013
Lieutenant Colonel        April 2018
Colonel                          June 2024

(Current as of July 2026)