Col Jeffrey “Vader” Peterson is the Commander of the 18th Operations Group, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan. He commands the largest combat operations group in the U.S. Air Force comprised of 900 people in nine squadrons. The group flies the F-15EX, KC-135R/T, HH-60W, and E-3G while also executing aeromedical and combat rescue missions in support of U.S. and allied interests. As the 18th Expeditionary Operations Group Commander, Col Peterson commands more than 300 rotational Airmen in six squadrons employing the RC-135, F-15E, F-16, F-22, F-35, and MQ-9 which perform daily Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions and Higher Headquarters taskings across USPACOM.
Col Peterson received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 2004. After earning his wings from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, he reported to his first operational assignment at Eglin AFB. Flying the F-15C and then the F-22A before transitioning to the F-15E/EX, Col Peterson has served five flying tours in addition to multiple deployments around the world. His command experience includes leading the 43rd Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida, the Air Force’s sole F-22 Formal Training Unit. Col Peterson is a graduate of the United States Air Force Weapons School with more than 2,000 hours of flight time, including 89 combat hours.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 USAF F-22A Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2018 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Master of Science in National Resource Strategy, Distinguished Graduate, The Eisenhower School, Washington, D.C.
2023 Certificate in Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2004 – January 2005, Student, 557th Flying Training Squadron, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2. February 2005 – September 2006, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. October 2006 – June 2007, Student, F-15C Initial Qualification Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. July 2007 - September 2009, F-15C Flight Lead, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 60 FS, Eglin AFB, Fla.
5. October 2009 – December 2010, F-22A Mission Commander, Chief of Scheduling, 7 FS, Holloman AFB, N.M.
6. January 2011 – April 2011, F-22A Mission Commander, Activities Security Manager, 7 FS, Holloman AFB, N.M.
7. May 2011 – June 2013, F-22A Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 7 FS, Holloman AFB, N.M.
8. July 2013 – October 2013, F-22A Flight Examiner, Chief of Standardizations and Evaluations, 7 FS, Holloman AFB, N.M.
9. November 2013 – January 2014, Chief of Standardizations and Evaluations, 95 FS, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
10. February 2014 – October 2014, Chief of Current Operations, 325th Operations Support Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
11. November 2014 – July 2015, Assistant Director of Operations, 95 FS, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
12. August 2015 – November 2016, Weapons Officer, 90 FS, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
13. December 2016 – June 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, 90 FS, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
14. July 2017 – May 2018, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. June 2018 – January 2020, Director of Operations, 43 FS, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
16. February 2020 – August 2021, Commander, 43 FS, Eglin AFB, Fla.
17. September 2021 – June 2022, Deputy Commander, 325th Operations Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
18. July 2022 – May 2023, Student, The Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
19. June 2023 – June 2025, Operations Research Analyst, Cost Assessment Program Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. July 2025 – October 2025, Deputy Chief, Aircrew Training and Management Division, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. November 2025 – June 2026, Division Chief, Aircrew Management, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
22. July 2026 – Present, Commander, 18th Operations Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2023 – June 2025, Operations Research Analyst, Cost Assessment Program Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. as a Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,000
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-15A/C/D/E, F-22A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2006
Captain June 2, 2008
Major June 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel February 1, 2019
Colonel March 1, 2025
(Current as of July 2026)