Col. Robert W. Sturgill is the Commander of the 509th Operations Group at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. He is responsible for the operational combat readiness of the world’s only operational stealth bomber fleet. He also trains warriors and develops future leaders who fly and support the B-2 Spirit bombers to execute the Wing’s mission of nuclear operations and global strike…anytime, anywhere.
Col. Sturgill, a Texas native and Eagle Scout, was commissioned through Air Force ROTC at Brigham Young University in December 2001, just months after the 9/11 attacks. He graduated from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas where he was selected to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter. He completed Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals at Sheppard AFB, Texas and F-16 Initial Qualification Training at Luke AFB, Arizona. During his first operational tour in the F-16, he was selected to join the B-2 program. After completing B-2 Initial Qualification Training, Col Sturgill spent three years in the 393rd Bomb Squadron where he was a Flight Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, nuclear command and control procedures instructor, instructor pilot, and evaluator pilot. During this time, he led Low Observable-Navy integration with B-2, F-22 Raptor, and Carrier Strike Group assets in Continuous Bomber Presence deployments and Joint Task Force exercises in the Pacific. Subsequently, he was selected to attend the U.S. Air Force Weapons School in class 11A. He then returned to the 393rd Bomb Squadron as Chief of Weapons and Tactics for six months before returning to the Weapons School as an instructor and the Director of Operations. He left Whiteman AFB to attend Command and Staff College at the Marine Corps University and then to serve the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a Presidential Strike Advisor and Assistant Deputy Director for Operations in the National Military Command Center on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. He then returned to Whiteman AFB to serve as the Wing Inspector General and the 13th Bomb Squadron Commander. Col Sturgill’s hobbies include sports, music, outdoor activities, and spending time with his family.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, Brigham Young University, Utah
2003 Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2004 F-16C/D Initial Qualification Course, Luke AFB, Ariz.
2007 B-2 Initial Qualification Course, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
2008 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 USAF B-2 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Ala.
2016 Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University, Va.
2016 Master of Military Studies, Marine Corps University, Va.
2022 Doctor of Public Policy, Liberty University, Va.
2024 Air War College, Air University, Ala.
2024 Master of Strategic Studies, Air University, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2002 – September 2002, Officer in Charge, Student Training Flight, 80 Operational Support Squadron, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
ASSIGNMENTS CONT
2. October 2002 – October 2003, Student Pilot, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, 80 Fighter Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. November 2003 – October 2004, Student Pilot, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, 62 Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. November 2004 – May 2006, Assistant Scheduling Officer, F-16 Pilot, 18 Fighter Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
5. June 2006 – December 2006, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, T-38 Pilot, 394 Combat Training Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
6. January 2007 – March 2007, Executive Officer, T-38 Pilot, 509 Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
7. April 2007 – October 2007, B-2 Initial Qualification Training Student, 394 CTS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
8. November 2007 – December 2010, Flight Commander, B-2 Instructor Pilot, 393 Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
9. January 2011 – June 2011, Student Pilot, USAF Weapons School, 325 Weapons Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
10. July 2011 – December 2011, Chief of Weapons & Tactics, B-2 Evaluator Pilot, 393 Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
11. January 2012 – December 2012, Assistant Director of Operations, B-2 Instructor Pilot, 325 WPS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
12. January 2013 – October 2014, Director of Operations, 325 WPS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
13. November 2014 – June 2015, Director of Inspections, 509 Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
14. July 2015 – June 2016, Graduate Student, US Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University, Quantico MCB, Va.
15. July 2016 – June 2019, Presidential Strike Advisor/Assistant Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center, Operations Directorate, the Joint Staff, Pentagon
16. July 2019 – May 2021, Inspector General, 509 Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
17. May 2021 – June 2023, Commander, 13 Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
18. July 2023 – June 2024, Graduate Student, Air War College (Grand Strategy Seminar), Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
19. June 2024 – Present, Commander, 509 Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: more than 2000 hours
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, F-16, and B-2
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Air Combat Maneuvering Top Gun, Alaska Air to Air Turkey Shoot 2006
Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officers School 2008
Chief of Staff Flight (#1 Flight), Squadron Officers School 2008
Robert W. Williams Tuskegee Airmen Company Grade Officer of the Year 2009
Distinguished Graduate, USAF Weapons School 2011
Flying Award, USAF Weapons School 2011
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jan., 2002
First Lieutenant Jan., 2004
Captain Jan., 2006
Major Jan., 2012
Lieutenant Colonel Jan., 2017
Colonel July, 2023
(Current as of June 2024)