Colonel Robert M. Ford Jr., is the Commander, 90th Security Forces Group, F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. In that capacity, he leads six squadrons and a group staff responsible for Air Force Global Strike Command’s Readiness Training Center and defending a base which supports 7,100 personnel, a weapons storage area and 150 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and their related infrastructure spread throughout a 9,600 square-mile area across Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado.
Colonel Ford enlisted in the Air Force in 1990 as a Law Enforcement Specialist and earned his commission in 1999 after completing Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Colonel Ford has performed a myriad of duties that include Officer-In-Charge of Training and Resources, Flight Commander, Convoy Commander, Operations Officer, Squadron Commander and an Action Officer at the Major Command, Joint and Air Staff level. He previously served as the Provost Marshal, Headquarters, United States Forces, Japan (USFJ) and Division Chief, Security Forces, Headquarters, Fifth Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
EDUCATION:
1995 Associates Degree in Liberal Arts, Hillsborough Community College, Plant City, Fla.
1998 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, University of Maryland at College Park, Md.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Master of Arts Degree in Criminology, University of Maryland at College Park, Md.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, intermediate developmental education credit for in-residence AFIT program, College Park, Md.
2018 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. December 1990 - July 1994, Desk Sgt, Patrolman, 325th Security Police Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2. March 1999 - July 2001, OIC, Training & Resources, 71st Security Forces Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
3. August 2001 - July 2004, Flight Commander, Convoy Commander, Operations Officer, 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.
4. August 2004 - December 2005, Air Force Institute of Technology, Student, University of Maryland.
5. January 2006 – June 2008, Deputy Chief, Programs and Resources Branch, Deployed Chief of Security Forces (Al Mubarak Air Base, Kuwait), Security Forces Division, Directorate of Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, HQ AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas
6. June 2008 – Apr 2010, Commander, Detachment 2, Headquarters Air Force Security Forces Center(HQ AFSFC), Naval Consolidated Brig, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
7. June 2010 – June 2012, Commander, 902d Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, Randolph AFB, Texas
8. June 2012 – May 2015, Action Officer & Deputy Division Chief, Joint Staff, Current Operations Division of the J3 Deputy Directorate for Nuclear, Homeland Defense, and Current Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
9. June 2015 – June 2017, Commander, 802d Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland AFB, Texas
10. July 2017 – May 2018, Air War College, Student, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. June 2018 – August 2020, Chief, Integrated Defense Policy Division, Directorate of Security Forces, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. August 2020 – June 2021, Provost Marshal, U.S. Forces, Japan and Chief, Security Forces Division, Fifth Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan
13. June 2021- Present, Commander, 90th Security Forces Group, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Meritorious Service Medal w/ fourth oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal w/ fourth oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal w/ third oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
1999 71st Flying Training Wing Company Grade Officer of the Year
2007 Headquarters Air Education and Training Command Company Grade Officer of the Year
2007 Team Randolph Company Grade Officer of the Year
2007 Air Force Security Forces Company Grade Officer of the Year (Higher Headquarters)
2015 Joint Staff Action Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant – February 26, 1999
First Lieutenant – February 26, 2001
Captain – February 26, 2003
Major – September 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel – March 1, 2014
Colonel – May 1, 2020
(Current as of August 2021)