Lieutenant Colonel Albert J. “A.J.” Ashby enlisted in the Air Force in 1990 and received his commission after completing Air Force Officer Training School in 2001. He has extensive experience in space systems acquisition and operations with leadership assignments within the Intelligence Community and staff positions at Headquarters Air Force. He is also an experienced SECAF Legislative Liaison (US Senate) and Special Missions Unit operator with multiple global contingency and humanitarian deployments with over 5,300 hours in a variety of aircraft and 133 combat/combat support missions. Lieutenant Colonel Ashby is also a graduate of the United States Air Force Education With Industry with The Boeing Company, and was the AFSPC Western Range pathfinder for the Spacelift Education and Crossover Program. Prior to becoming a Blue Horizons CSAF Fellow he completed a Materiel Leader assignment (equivalent to Squadron Command) at the Office of Space Launch at the National Reconnaissance Office.
Lieutenant Colonel Jason D. Bialon is a command pilot with over 3,400 hours in the B-52H, MQ-1B, MQ-9A. He commissioned through Air Force ROTC at the University of North Dakota in 1999 with a BS degree in Atmospheric Sciences. Over his 20-year career he has acquired a background in Weather, Acquisitions & Program Management, Flight Test, and Flight Operations. He served on the Air Staff as lead operational expert for cradle to grave development and sustainment for over 1,000 personnel fielding advanced air and space systems. Prior to Blue Horizons, Lt Col Bialon was a Squadron Commander within the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, CA.
Lieutenant Colonel Nathan A. Creech is a command test pilot with over 2,000 hours in the F-15E, T-38A/B/C, and C-12D/J. He commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) at Purdue University in 2000 with a BS degree in Computer Engineering. He served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and attended Test Pilot School in 2009. Lt Col Creech also served on the Joint Staff J-8 at Pacific Command (PACOM), where he worked the command's capability requirements and advanced programs. Most recently, he was a Developmental Flight Test Squadron Commander leading over 350 military, civilian, and contractor airmen in testing Remotely Piloted Aircraft technologies. He was a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Service Chief’s Fellow and holds MS degrees in Geological Engineering and Flight Test Engineering.
Major Gary F. Glojek is a Senior Pilot with over 3,000 hours in the A-10C, T-38C, and T-6A. Prior to being a Blue Horizons Fellow, he was an Assistant Director of Operations, an A-10 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, a Forward Air Controller (Airborne), and a Rescue Mission Commander. In his previous assignment, he specialized in preparing small, lightweight teams to project combat power and maneuver quickly, developing and realizing adaptive basing concepts. His experience includes over 250 hours of combat time and two assignments to Osan AB, ROK. Major Glojek commissioned in 2006 upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree, and he earned a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2012.
Major Peter M. Johnson is a B-1B Instructor Weapons Systems Officer with over 2500 hours, including several flying deployments in support of operations ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM'S SENTINEL, and INHERENT RESOLVE. Prior to Blue Horizons, he was the Director of Weapons and Tactics for the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron, evaluating and developing tactics for all new B-1 hardware and software upgrades, developing several key multi-domain strike capabilities. During this time, he also deployed to support Air Forces Central Command as Chief of Master Air Attack Plans. Major Johnson commissioned from the University of Illinois AFROTC program with a BS in Electrical Engineering, followed by multiple operational B-1B flying and operations support positions before attending the USAF Weapons School. Before joining the 337th, he was the Chief of Weapons and Tactics for the 34th Bomb Squadron.
Major Khristopher C. Krueger is a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Officer and certified Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) – Standardization and Evaluation Examiner. He earned his commission through Air Force ROTC at Ohio State University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Global Security and Intelligence. In 2014, he received his master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Alabama. Prior to volunteering to become a TACP Officer, Major Krueger also served as a Munitions Missile Maintenance Officer and Aircraft Maintenance Officer. His last assignment was at the 1st Air Support Operations Group (ASOG) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. There, he ensured detailed coordination with U.S. Army I Corps staff on full-spectrum airpower integration, planning and execution matters.
Lieutenant Colonel Karen A.F. Landale is a warranted Contracting Officer, specializing in operational contracting. She is a graduate of the University of Tampa (2002, BS International Business), the Naval Postgraduate School (2009, MBA Strategic Purchasing), Air Command and Staff College (2012, MMOAS Joint Warfare), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2014, PhD Business Administration/Marketing). Lieutenant Colonel Landale has served in a variety of operational contracting positions, including five deployments in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. She also served as an Assistant Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, where she was responsible for the development and delivery of the Enterprise Sourcing curriculum. Before joining Blue Horizons, she was the Commander of the 773d Enterprise Sourcing Squadron. She and her team supported and shaped AF-wide medical solutions for the $6B Air Force Medical Service portfolio.
Lieutenant Colonel William D. Lutmer is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BS in Physics and Iowa State University with a Masters in Systems Engineering. He is a Command Pilot with over 2,500 hours in the F-16 and is a graduate of the United States Air Force Weapons School. Lieutenant Col Lutmer has extensive operational fighter experience flying with multiple squadrons in Asia and the United States, as well as four combat deployments to CENTCOM. Additionally, he has served as an instructor at the USAF Weapons School and is a graduated fighter squadron commander. Prior to joining Blue Horizons Lt Col Lutmer served on the Air Staff developing future capabilities and requirements for the Combat Air Forces.
Major Ryan Middleton enlisted in the USAF in 2001, performing Airborne surveillance aboard the JSTARS E-8C aircraft. He commissioned in 2008 after graduating from Mercer University with a degree in Organizational Leadership, and is currently a C-130H Navigator with over 3000 hours. Additionally, Maj Middleton serves as a Mobility Air Advisor supporting Security Cooperation initiatives across Africa and the Pacific. Prior to his selection as a Blue Horizons Fellow, Maj Middleton was the Operations Officer for the USAF Center for Strategy and Technology, and Blue Horizons Instructor. He holds a MA in Organizational leadership from the University of Oklahoma.
Major Alex L. Moon is a Senior Pilot with over 1700 hours in the RQ-170 Sentinel and MQ-1 Predator, including 1500 Combat Support Hours. Major Moon served as an Evaluator/Instructor Pilot in the RQ-170 and an Instructor Pilot in the MQ-1. Major Moon previously served in the Advanced RPA Branch of Air Combat Command Operations Directorate, as the 732d Operations Group RQ-170 Branch Chief, and as RQ-170 chief of tactics. Prior to joining Blue Horizons, he was an Air University Fellow instructing at Squadron Officer School. Major Moon received his commission in 2007 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy with a BS in Social Sciences.
Major Timothy N. Neslony is a career Cyber Warfare Operator with previous assignments across United States Cyber Command and the Intelligence Community. Prior to Blue Horizons he served as Commander, Detachment 3, 315th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, where he delivered Air Force combat capability through the execution of cyberspace attack and cyberspace intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Major Neslony commissioned from the Angelo State University AFROTC program with a BS in Computer Science. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation NEW DAWN, served as Aide-de-Camp to the Air Forces Cyber Commander, and is a graduate of the National Security Agency’s Computer Network Operations Development Program.
Major Kristen A. Smith is a Senior Pilot with over 3,000 hours in the T-6A, T-1A, and C-17A and a graduate of the USAF Weapons School. Prior to Blue Horizons, Major Smith was a C-17A Evaluator pilot at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, providing worldwide global mobility support, while also performing duties as the Chief Wing Executive Officer. Major Smith graduated with a B.S. in Physics from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, where she commissioned into the Air Force through ROTC. Major Smith was initially a T-6A Instructor pilot and then selected to fly the C-17A, where she has flown in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, deploying to CENTCOM AORs and performing missions throughout six continents.
Major Bryan J. Snyder commissioned in 2007 through Michigan State University’s AFROTC program. A career acquisition officer, Major Snyder has helped develop and test multiple classified and conventional weapons systems while serving in a variety of positions in engineering, flight test, and program management. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University, MSE in Systems Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University, and MS in Flight Test Engineering from Air University as a graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School. Prior to his selection as a Blue Horizons Fellow, Major Snyder was the Advanced Low Observables Survivability Branch Chief in the Advanced Programs Division at Headquarters, Air Combat Command.
Major Michael P. Sweeney was a direct commission in 2012. He originally entered the armed services in 1991 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged after 5 years of service. He then earned his B.S. in Education at the University of Michigan before obtaining a Master’s degree from the University of Detroit Mercy in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies. His first duty assignment in the USAF was at Eglin AFB. In 2014 he was selected for a position at a special tactics unit as a flight med PA. Major Sweeney led a diverse team providing comprehensive medical support, vision, and leadership across the full spectrum of Special Tactics medicine – combat trauma training, aerospace medicine, medical logistics, operational support and force health management.