Col. Bradley Klemesrud is the Commander of the 419th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah. The wing’s mission is to “Deploy Combat-Ready Citizen Airmen” and he provides combat-ready forces of approximately 1,300 Reserve and civilian Airmen to support national objectives. The 419th Fighter Wing offers a diverse range of combat capabilities to include F-35 operations and maintenance, as well as full-spectrum mission support such as civil engineering, security forces, medical, aerial port, firefighting, supply and transportation.
Col. Klemesrud earned his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1998 and is a command pilot with over 3,400 flying hours, including more than 450 combat hours. He has deployed on several occasions in support of Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and multiple Theater Security Packages.
Col. Klemesrud served in several active-duty assignments before entering the Air Force Reserve in 2007. Prior to his current position, Col. Klemesrud was Deputy Commander of the 419th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Reserve Officer Development Course, Robins AFB, Ga.
2008 International Joint Officer Leadership Development Course, Zurich, Switzerland
2011 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1998 – May 1999, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. June 1999 – October 1999, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 80th FTW, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. October 1999 – November 2000, Student, F-16 Flying Training Unit, 308th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. November 2000 – June 2002, Squadron Scheduler, 79th FS, Shaw AFB, S.C.
5. June 2002 – June 2003, Electronic Combat Pilot, 79th FS, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. June 2003 – June 2004, Flight Commander/Air Liaison Officer, 604th Air Support Operations Squadron, Camp Casey, Republic of Korea
7. June 2004 – July 2005, Wing Weapons Air to Ground Officer, 388th Operations Support Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
8. July 2005 – February 2007, Flight Commander, 421st FS, Hill AFB, Utah
9. February 2007 – November 2008, Fighter Pilot, 457th FS, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas
10. November 2008 – November 2009, Chief of Scheduling, 457th FS, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
11. November 2009 – July 2014, Chief, Fighter Enhancement Program, 301st Fighter Wing, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
12. July 2014 – July 2015, Assistant Director of Operations, 466th FS, Hill AFB, Utah
13. July 2015 – July 2016, Director of Operations, 419th Operations Support Flight, Hill AFB, Utah
14. July 2016 – June 2018, Director of Operations, 466th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
15. June 2018 – July 2021, Deputy Commander, 419th Operations Group, Hill AFB, Utah
16. August 2021 – November 2023, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director of Air, Space, and Information Operations, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia
17. November 2023 – August 2025, Deputy Commander, 419th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
18. August 2025 – Present, Commander, 419th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,400 including more than 450 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16, and F-35
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1998
First Lieutenant May 27, 2000
Captain May 27, 2002
Major October 8, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel October 8, 2015
Colonel August 1, 2021
(Current as of August 2025)