Colonel Brad N. Howell Col. Brad N. Howell is the Commander, 25th Attack Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. He is responsible for leading more than 2,000 personnel across ten squadrons, located throughout four geographically separated installations. The 25th Attack Wing provides 24/7/365 MQ-9A Global Combat Airpower – delivering precision strike and critical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance capabilities to Combatant Commanders in support of National Defense Strategy priorities while overseeing CONUS-based training flight operations within the Nevada Test and Training Range. Col Howell commissioned into the United States Air Force in 2003 through the United States Air Force Academy. He began his career as an F-15C Eagle pilot and then transitioned to Remotely Piloted Aircraft, having served as an Instructor/Evaluator Pilot in the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper in multiple operational and training squadrons. Col Howell is a distinguished graduate from the Air Force’s Weapons School, a Blue Horizons Fellow, and commanded the 867th Attack Squadron during Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Prior to his current position, Col Howell was the 49th Operations Group Commander at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. EDUCATION 2003 Bachelor of Science, Management, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. 2004 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2011 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2012 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 2016 Master of Airpower Strategy and Tech Integration, CSAF Blue Horizons Fellow, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2020 Master of National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School for National Security, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C. ASSIGNMENTS 1. May 2003 – May 2004, Transition Officer, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. 2. May 2004 – January 2006 Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss., then Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody AFB, Ga. 3. January 2006 – September 2006, Student, F-15C Eagle Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla. 4. September 2006 – November 2007, Scheduling Officer, 493d Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England 5. November 2007 – December 2010, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 42d Attack Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev. 6. December 2010 – June 2011, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev. 7. June 2011 – February 2013, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 29th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M. 8. February 2013 – July 2015, MQ-9 Weapons Instructor Course Instructor, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, 26th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev. 9. July 2015 – July 2016, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Blue Horizons Fellow, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 10. July 2016 – July 2019, Director of Operations then Commander, 867th Attack Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev. 11. July 2019 – June 2020, Student, Eisenhower School, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 12. June 2020 – June 2022, Operations Officer, Joint Staff Deputy Directorate for Regional Operations J35, Pentagon 13. June 2022 – July 2023, Division Chief, Penetrating Persistent Multi-Role Operations, HAF/A3, Pentagon 14. July 2023 – July 2025, Commander, 49th Operations Group, Holloman AFB, N.M. 15. July 2025 – September 2025, Special Assistant to the Commander, 432d Wing, Creech AFB, Nev. 16. September 2025 – Present, Commander, 25th Attack Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C. FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command Pilot Flight hours: more than 1,800, including more than 800 hours in combat Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-15C, MQ-1, and MQ-9 MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Legion of Merit Award Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal with ten oak leaf clusters Joint Service Achievement Medal Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force STEM Award for Engineering Achievement (Current as of SEPTEMBER 2025)