Col David J. Berkland is the Commander, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The wing’s mission is to train the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat-ready Airmen. As part of Air Education and Training Command, and home to 27 squadrons with F-35A Lightning II and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, the 56th is the largest fighter wing in the U.S. Air Force with over $13 Billion in aircraft and 7,000 total force personnel. The wing graduates more than 200 F-35A pilots, 30 F-16 pilots, and 270 air control professionals annually. The 56th Fighter Wing also supports the F-15C Formal Training Unit based at Klamath Falls, Ore., which produces over 20 graduates annually. Additionally, the 56th Fighter Wing manages the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field and is steward of the Barry M. Goldwater Range, a military training range spanning more than one million acres of the Sonoran Desert.

Col Berkland was commissioned in 1998 from Officer Training School after graduating from Augustana University. He performed duties as an F-16 instructor pilot and weapons officer, and flew combat missions in Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, NORTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL. He has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels, and instructed at the USAF Weapons School. He completed staff tours on the Air Staff as the Chief of Air Superiority Weapons Requirements, and on the Joint Staff as the Secretary of Defense Orders Book Briefer. Prior to his current position, Col Berkland served as the chief of staff to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Col Berkland is a command pilot with more than 3,800 flying hours, and 930 combat hours.

EDUCATION

1997 Bachelor of Arts in Government, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD 2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL

2005 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV 2007 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence

2009 Master of Arts in Military Studies, American Military University, WV

2011 Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Washington, DC 2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala, by correspondence

2017 Master of Arts in National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington, DC 2023 Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Course, Pearl Harbor, HI

ASSIGNMENTS

1. August 1998—September 1999, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, TX
2. February 1999—September 2000, Student, F-16 training, 309th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ
3. November 2000—September 2003, Instructor Pilot, 78th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, SC
4. September 2003—December 2004, Flight Commander and Examiner Pilot, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
5. January 2005—June 2005, Student, 16th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
6. June 2005—January 2007, Weapons Officer, 4th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, UT
7. January 2007—September 2007, Weapons Officer, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, UT
8. September 2007—July 2010, Flight Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, Deployed Wing Weapons Officer (332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Balad AB, Iraq), 16th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
9. August 2010—July 2011, Student, National Intelligence University, Bolling AFB, Washington, DC
10. July 2011—October 2012, Chief, Air Superiority Weapons Requirements, A5RC, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA
11. October 2012—October 2013, Director of Operations, 52d Operations Support Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
12. October 2013—January 2014, Director of Operations, 480th Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
13. January 2014—January 2016, Commander, 480th Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
14. January 2016 - June 2016, Director of Staff, 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
15. July 2016—June 2017, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, DC
16. July 2017—July 2019, Secretary of Defense Orders Book Briefer, J-35, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA
17. July 2019—June 2020, Commander, 405th Air Expeditionary Group, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
18. August 2020—June 2023, Commander, 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB, AK
19. August 2023—June 2024, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Airfield, HI
20. July 2024 – Present, Commander, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz.