Col. Terry W. Hjerpe is the Commander, of the 505th Combat Training Group, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. As Commander, Col. Hjerpe is responsible for the development, experimentation, integration, and training of command-and-control weapon systems for Joint All-Domain Command and Control operations. The 505th CTG includes more than 430 personnel and is a subordinate unit of the 505th Command and Control Wing located at Hurlburt Field, Fla.
Col. Hjerpe is a 2005 graduate of Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Ala. and a 2011 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nev., and has served as a Weapons Officer at the squadron and wing level. He served as an Evaluator and Instructor within operational squadrons and the Airborne Warning and Control System Formal Training Unit. Previously, he served as a Battle Watch Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, where he managed USSTRATCOM’s Global Operations Center providing 24/7 assured Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications, force monitoring, and global situational awareness to senior leadership.
Col. Hjerpe was Commander, 968th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, where he led the Air Force Central Command’s largest flying unit in combat missions in Iraq, Syria, and the Arabian Gulf. Col. Hjerpe has flown 60 combat missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Spartan Shield.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Arts, Economics and Political Science, Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas
2005 Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School “TOPGUN”, Air Intercept Control Division, Fallon Naval Air Station, Nev.
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2012 Master of Arts, Strategic Intelligence, American Military University
2017 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Certificate in Legislative Studies, Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2022 Master of Science, Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2006-December 2006, Student, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Training, 325th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
2. January 2007-February 2008, Student, Air Weapons Officer Training, 552nd Training Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
3. January 2008-June 2009, Air Weapons Officer, 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
4. June 2009-December 2011, Instructor Air Weapons Officer, Assistant Flight Commander, 552nd Training Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
5. December 2011-October 2013, Chief Weapons and Tactics, Instructor Senior Director, 964th AACS, Tinker AFB, Okla.
6. October 2013-January 2015, Chief Weapons and Tactics, Instructor Senior Director, 961st AACS, Kadena Air Base, Japan
7. January 2015-June 2016, Chief Wing C2 Weapons and Tactics, Instructor Senior Director, 18th Operations Support Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
8. June 2016-December 2016, Air Force Legislative Fellow, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, Personnel and Readiness Division, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
9. January 2017-December 2017, Air Force Legislative Fellow, Office of Senator Dan Sullivan (Representative-Alaska), Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
10. January 2018-April 2019, Congressional Budget Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Financial Management and Budget, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. April 2019-April 2020, Director of Operations, 552d OSS, Tinker AFB, Okla.
12. May 2020-June 2021, Commander, 968th Expeditionary AACS, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates
13. June 2021-July 2022, Student, National Defense University, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
14. July 2022-June 2024, Deputy Division Chief and Branch Chief, J35, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
15. July 2024-June 2025, Battle Watch Commander, J36, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
16. July 2025-present, Commander, 505th Combat Training Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Air Battle Manager
Flight hours: more than 2,000 hours, including more than 700 combat hours
Aircraft flown: E-3GB/C/G
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Dec. 16, 2005
First Lieutenant Dec. 16, 2007
Captain Dec. 16, 2009
Major March 1, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 1, 2018
Colonel Aug. 1, 2024
(Current as of July 2025)