Colonel David R. Herndon is the Deputy Commander, 10th Air Base Wing, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. He directs a team of more than 3,000 military, civilian, and contractor Airmen who deliver civil engineering, integrated base defense, communications, logistics, contracting, chaplaincy, legal, medical, force support, and USAFA Band capabilities to mission partners. The 10th ABW supports more than 4,000 cadets, a total military community over 25,000 personnel, and executes a $150 million operating budget. Ahead of Colonel Herndon's previous assignments as the Director of Public Affairs at U.S. Air Forces Europe - Air Forces Africa and as the Public Affairs Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he earned the Security Forces' badge and beret and commanded the 28th Security Forces Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, and the 316th Security Support Squadron, Joint Base Andrews.
He previously served as a Senior Aide-de-Camp to the 21st Air Force Chief of Staff and to the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, and also as a Military Social Aide to the President of the United States. He's deployed in support of a variety of public affairs and information operations missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Europe and across the Indo-Pacific.
Colonel Herndon hails from Raleigh, North Carolina and earned his bachelor’s degree and commission at East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C. via the Reserve Officer Training Corps four-year program. He's held positions at squadron, wing, major command, air staff, combatant command, and OSD levels.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science in Communication, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
2005 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2006 Defense Information School (Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course), Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 2007 Information Warfare Applications Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2009 Master of Public Administration, Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri
2009 Squadron Officer School (Top Third Graduate), Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2013 Education with Industry (EWI) Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
2016 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence), Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2018 Strategic Policy Fellow (Residence), Air War College, OL-Washington, D.C.
2019 Security Forces Intermediate Course (Combat Leaders Course), Camp Bullis, Texas
2019 Security Forces Advanced Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2022 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2005 — May 2008, Chief of Media Relations, 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. May 2008 — June 2009, Chief, 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
3. June 2009 — July 2012, Operations Officer, then Executive Officer, then Chief of Plans Division, then Chief ofOperations Division, Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
4. Aug 2012 — June 2013, Education with Industry Student (Manager of Global Government Operations andCollegiate Sports Portfolios), UPS Corporate Public Relations, Atlanta, Georgia
5. July 2013 — May 2016, Executive Officer to the Director of Air Force Public Affairs, then Chief of ISR, Space and Cyber Strategic Communication Branch, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
6. May 2016 — June 2017, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
7. July 2017 — June 2018, Strategic Policy Fellow with duty at the U.S. Department of State’s Global Engagement Center and as Special Assistant, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Action Group, Washington D.C.
8. June 2018 — October 2018, Public Affairs Advisor to the 21st Chief of Staff of the Air Force, SecAF-CSAF Executive Action Group, Washington D.C.
9. October 2018 — September 2019, Sr Aide-de-Camp to the 21st Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Washington D.C.
10. September 2019 — August 2020, Commander, 11th Security Support Squadron (then 316th Security Support Squadron), 11th Security Forces Group (then 316th Security Forces Group), Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
11. August 2020 — July 2021, Commander, 28th Security Forces Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
12. July 2021— June 2022, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2022 — June 2024, Spokesman and Public Affairs Officer to the Under Secretary of Defense - Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2024 — June 2025, Director of Public Affairs, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
15. June 2025 — Present, Deputy Commander, 10th Air Base Wing, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2016 — June 2017, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE as a Major
2. June 2022 — June 2024, Spokesman and Public Affairs Officer to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs, Washington, D.C. as a Lieutenant Colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal w three Oak Leaf Clusters
Meritorious Service Medal w four Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal w Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal w Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Air Force Security Forces and Air Force Global Strike Command Squadron of the Year (2021)
11th Wing Squadron of the Year (2019)
Department of the Air Force's Public Affairs Field Grade Officer of the Year (2015)
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs' Staff Field Grade Officer of the Year (2015)
East Carolina University 40-Under-40 Leadership Award (2015)
PACAF Public Affairs' Company Grade Officer of the Year (2010)
AETC Public Affairs' Company Grade Officer of the Year (2007)
59th Medical Wing Lance P. Sijan Award (2007)
(Current as of July 2025)