Col. Mark M. Landez is the Commander, U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Preparatory School executes a 10-month highly structured regimen taking Cadet Candidates through basic training, academics, military training, athletics and character development. Completion of this challenging program for these cadet candidates provides them an opportunity to gain an appointment and lead at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Colonel Landez commissioned from the Academy in 2001. His assignments include bases in the Republic of Korea, Germany, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Japan, Guam, Alabama and Florida.
As a Cyber Warfare Officer, Colonel Landez has served at the squadron, group, wing and sub-unified command staff levels, commanded at the squadron level, and supported various operations, including Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, War Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2001 Basic Communications Officer Training, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2002 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Master of Arts, Unconventional Warfare, American Military University
2007 Advanced Communications Officer Training, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2010 U.S. Marine Corps Operations and Tactics Instructor Course, Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif.
2010 U.S. Marine Corps Advanced Communications Officer Course, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
2010 U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2013 Cyber 300, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2016 Cyber 400, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Air War College, by correspondence
2020 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2001 – November 2001, Student, Basic Communications Officer Training, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2. November 2001 – November 2002, Flight Commander, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
3. November 2002 – November 2005, Global Command and Control System Operations OIC, Commander’s Action Group, Ramstein AB, Germany (February 2004 – June 2004, Plans Flight Commander, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
4. November 2005 – May 2009, Executive Officer, Support Flight Commander, Warner Robins AFB, Ga. (September 2006 – February 2007, Operations Flight Commander, Sather AB, Iraq)
5. May 2009 – May 2010, Student, Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
6. May 2010 – May 2013, Executive Officer, Joint Communications Unit, Fort Bragg, N.C. (September 2010- September 2011, Aide de Camp for Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command)
7. May 2013 – May 2016, Operations Flight Commander, then Director of Operations, Kadena AB, Japan
8. June 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 644th Combat Communications Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
9. June 2018 – July 2019, Deputy Director, 7th Air Force Communications and Information, Osan AB, South Korea
10. July 2019 – May 2020, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. May 2020 – May 2022, Theater Plans Division Chief, Special Operations Command-Central Directorate of Communications, MacDill AFB, Fla.
12. May 2022 – July 2024, Director of Plans, Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Networks, Fort Meade, Md.
Communications, MacDill AFB, Fla.
13. July 2024 – Present, Commander, U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colorado Springs, Co.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters Air Force Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
(Current as of July 2024)