Col. Frank Azaravich is the Deputy Commander, 505th Command and Control Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla. The mission of the 505th CCW is to advance, integrate and standardize training, tactics and testing for operational-level command of air, space and cyber power in the joint and coalition environment. He assists the commander in developing the combat capability of the Air Operations Center and leading the U.S. Air Force’s Distributed Mission Operations and live, virtual, and constructive capabilities. The 505th CCW is comprised of the 505th Test and Training Group at Hurlburt Field, Fla., 505th Combat Training Group at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. and 505th CCW, Detachment 1 at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Col. Azaravich received his commission through the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Wilkes University in 2001. He has served as an Instructor and Evaluator for numerous crew positions in both the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System and the Control and Warning Center and has participated in Operations Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom. He is a Senior Air Battle Manager with more than 1,500 flight hours.
Col. Azaravich has served in numerous command and control assignments, and is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. He also served as the Commander, 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah, and as the Deputy Director, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Studies Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Chief Operating Officer for the Department of the Air Force’s Integrating Program Office for Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION
1998 Associate Degree, Broadcast Communications, Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke, Pa.
2001 Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
2001 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Master of Science, Information Systems Management, Touro University, Cypress, Calif.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2001 – October 2002, Student, Undergraduate ABM Training, 325th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
2. October 2002 – October 2003, Student, E-3 Air Weapons Officer Training, 552d Training Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
3. October 2003 – April 2005, E-3 Air Weapons Officer, 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
4. April 2005 – January 2006, Assistant Chief, Wing Weapons Training, 552d Operations Support Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
5. January 2006 – October 2006, Evaluator Air Weapons Officer, 965th AACS, Tinker AFB, Okla.
6. October 2006 – January 2009, Exercise and Contingency Officer, 962nd AACS, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
7. June 2009 – December 2009, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 962nd AACS, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
8. December 2009 – July 2011, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 728th ACS, Eglin AFB, Fla.
9. July 2011 – August 2012, Assistant Director of Operations, 728th ACS, Eglin AFB, Fla.
10. August 2012 – August 2014, Flight Commander, Group Weapons and Tactics, 752nd OSS, Tinker AFB, Okla.
11. August 2014 – June 2016, Director of Operations, 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
12. June 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
13. June 2018 – July 2022, Deputy Director, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Studies Group, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2022 – September 2022, Acting Chief Architect, Department of the Air Force, Chief Architect Office, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. September 2022 – July 2024, Chief Operating Officer, DAF Program Executive Officer Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. July 2024 – present, Deputy Commander, 505th Command and Control Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Air Battle Manager
Flight Hours: 1,500
Aircraft Flown: E-3 B/C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 2001
First Lieutenant May 30, 2003
Captain May 30, 2005
Major July 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 1, 2016
Colonel Jan. 1, 2023
(Current as of July 2024)