Colonel ADAM W. "DIGGER" SHELTON

Col. Adam W. Shelton is is the Commander, 505th Test and Training Group (TTG), Hurlburt Field, Fla. As the Commander, Col. Shelton is responsible for initial and advanced training for U.S. Air Force, joint, and coalition personnel in the principles, processes, and systems used to command airpower at the operational-level of war, developing operational-to-tactical level tactics, techniques, and procedures supporting air, space, and cyber integration. Additionally, the 505th TTG conducts operational tests for elements of the Theater Air Control System, Space, Cyber, and selected intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance weapons systems while providing responsive worldwide RADAR-centric planning, optimization, and constant evaluation. The 505th TTG includes more than 500 personnel in four active duty squadrons, three detachments, and six operating locations.

Col. Shelton entered the U.S. Air Force in 2001 as a distinguished graduate of the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He has served in a variety of leadership positions including qualifications as an E-3 Air Battle Manager Instructor/Evaluator, Chief Weapons and Tactics, Chief Standardization and Evaluations, Assistant Director of Operations, and Director Joint Special Operations Air Detachment, Squadron Director of Operations and Comander.

Col. Shelton has flown in and supported numerous contingency operations, some of which include Operations NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, UNIFIED PROTECTOR, NEW DAWN, and INHERENT RESOLVE. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Division Chief of Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and the Advance Battle Management System (ABMS) capability requirements, Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C.

 

EDUCATION

2001 Bachelor of Science, Computer Management and Information Systems, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

2002 Aerospace Basics Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2007 Tactical Electronic Warfare Operations Course, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

2008 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2009 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Distinguished Graduate, Nellis AFB, Nev.

2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

2014 Distinguished Graduate, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.

2020 National Security Fellowship, Havard Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.

 

ASSIGNMENTS

1. January 2002 – March 2003, Student, Undergraduate Air Battle Management Training, 325th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.

2. March 2003 – July 2004, E-3 Air Weapons Officer, 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS), Tinker AFB, Okla.

3. August 2004 – December 2008, Evaluator Air Battle Manager and Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, 325th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.

4. January 2009 – July 2009, Student, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.

5. August 2009 – June 2011, Instructor Senior Director and Chief Weapons and Tactics, 963th AACS, Tinker AFB, Okla.

6. July 2011 – June 2012, Mission Crew Commander and Chief Operations Group Weapons and Tactics, 552d Operations Support Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.

7. July 2012 – June 2013, Assistant Director of Operations, 960th ACS, Tinker AFB, Okla.

8. July 2013 – June 2014, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Newport, R.I.

9. July 2014 – May 2016, Chief C2ISR Operations, Aviation Tactics and Evaluation Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

10. May 2016 – June 2017, Director of Operations, 552d Operations Support Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.

11. June 2017 – June 2019, Commander, 552d Operations Support Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.

12. June 2019 – June 2020, National Security Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.

13. June 2020 – June 2021, Division Chief, C2ISR and ABMS Requirements, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

14. June 2021 – present, Commander, 505th Test and Training Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

 

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: command air battle manager

Flight hours: more than 1,000 including more than 100 combat hours

Aircraft flown: E-3 B/C/G

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Bronze Star

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Army Commendation Medal

Air Force Combat Action Medal

Army Combat Action Badge

Air Education and Training Command Master Instructor

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant Jan. 3, 2002

First Lieutenant Jan. 3, 2004

Captain Jan. 3, 2006

Major Jan. 1, 2012

Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 1, 2016

Colonel March 1, 2021

(Current as of June 2021)