Colonel Tongren is the Director of Staff-Air, COANG, Buckley SFB, Colorado. In this role, Colonel Tongren oversees daily operations of the Headquarters staff, formulates long range strategic planning and guidance, and executes higher HQ staff functions with partners at the state/regional/national level ensuring the COANG’s strategic vision and campaign plan initiatives are implemented.
Colonel Tongren began his military career in June 1991 by enlisting in the Colorado Air National Guard as a F-16C Crew Chief. He then received his commission in the Kansas Air National Guard in Sept 1998 after attending the Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, TN. He served as a B-1B Aircraft Commander before transitioning to the F-16C serving in both the New York and South Dakota Air National Guard before returning to the Colorado Air National Guard in 2011. With over 31 years of military experience, Colonel Tongren has held leadership positions at the flight, squadron, group, and wing level. Prior to his current assignment Colonel Tongren was the Vice Wing Commander, 140th Wing, COANG, Buckley SFB, Colorado.
In his civilian capacity, Colonel Tongren served as a state trooper with the Colorado State Patrol and is currently a pilot with a major airline flying the B-787. He is a command pilot with more than 3100 hours in the B-1B and F-16C, having flown over 375 combat hours in Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE and ENDURING FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Aerospace, Metropolitan State University, Denver, CO
1998 Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson ANGB, TN
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL - by correspondence
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL - by correspondence
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL - by correspondence
2016 ANG Squadron Commander’s Course, Joint Base Andrews, MD
2021 USAF Wing/Vice Wing Commander’s Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1991 – August 1991, Student, USAF Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
2. September 1991 – November 1998, F-16 Crew Chief, Buckley ANGB, CO
3. December 1998 – December 1999, Student, USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, OK
4. January 1999 – May 2000, Student, B-1B Pilot Training, Dyess AFB, TX
5. June 2000 – June 2002, B-1B Aircraft Commander, Kansas ANG, McConnell AFB, KS
6. July 2002 – August 2002, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody AFB, GA
7. September 2002 – May 2003, F-16 Pilot Training, Arizona ANG, Tucson, AZ
8. June 2003 – March 2010, F-16 Pilot, Chief of Scheduling/Stan-Eval, 138th FS, New York ANG
9. April 2010 – October 2011, F-16 Pilot, 175th FS, South Dakota ANG
10. November 2011 – September 2015, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 120th FS, Buckley AFB, CO
11. October 2015 – June 2017, Director of Operations, 140th Operations Support Squadron, Buckley AFB, CO
12. July 2017 – June 2019, Commander, 140th Operations Support Squadron, Buckley AFB, CO
13. July 2019 – July 2021, Commander, 140th Operations Group, Buckley SFB, CO
14. August 2021 – December 2022, Vice Wing Commander, Buckley SFB, CO
15. January 2023 – Present, Director of Staff-Air, JFHQ, Buckley SFB, CO
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flying Hours: Over 3100 (375 Combat)
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, B-1B, and F-16C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with one “C” device and two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant: Sept 24, 1998
First Lieutenant: Sept 24, 2000
Captain: Nov 22, 2002
Major: Nov 15, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel: Nov 15, 2014
Colonel: Aug 16, 2019
(Current as of Jan 2023)