Colonel Lendy Renegar is Vice Commander, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. As the vice commander, he assists and advises the commander responsible for the training of more than 1,200 military, civilian, and contract personnel employing 201 T-6A Texan II and T-38C Talon aircraft flying up to 66,000 hours and 55,000 sorties, training up to 218 student pilots, 80 instructor pilots, and 150 Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals trainees annually for the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, the world’s only internationally manned and managed undergraduate pilot training program. Fourteen NATO nations participate: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Colonel Renegar received his commission through ROTC at North Carolina State University in December 1994 with a B.S. in Meteorology. His primary weapon system is the F-15C where he has served as a mission commander, instructor pilot, and flight examiner. While commanding the 493rd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, his squadron won the 2014 Raytheon Trophy for the top fighter squadron in the Air Force. He has taken part in Operations Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Assured Response, Joint Endeavor, Icelandic Air Policing, Baltic Air Policing, Atlantic Resolve, Resolute Support, Freedom's Sentinel as well as Joint Task Force Katrina and Canadian Operation Podium.
The colonel is a command pilot with more than 2,600 hours, including over 145 in combat over Afghanistan and Iraq, multiple active air scrambles and intercepts including the first night visual goggle identification of a Russian fighter in Air Force history.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science in Meteorology, North Carolina State University, N.C.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2009 Master of Science in Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla.
2012 Air War College, by correspondence
2016 U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2016 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1991 – May 1992, intel analyst, 1st Battalion, 130th Aviation Regiment, North Carolina Air National Guard
2. February 1995 – February 1995, initial cadre, USAF Weather Officer School, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. February 1995 – February 1997, tanker airlift weather officer, Scott AFB, Ill.
4. February 1997 – May 1998, student, undergraduate pilot training, Vance AFB, Okla.
5. May 1998 – April 1999, F-15C RTU student, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
6. April 1999 – January 2002, F-15C wingman, flight lead, mission commander, instructor pilot, Chief of Life Support, electronic combat pilot and MSIP manager, 58th Fighter Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
7. January 2002 – March 2004, F-15C West Coast Demonstration Team Commander and instructor pilot, 33rd Operations Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
8. March 2004 – March 2007, F-15C instructor pilot, flight examiner, Chief of Safety and Assistant Director of Operations, 2nd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
9. March 2007 – March 2008, Detachment Commander, U.S. Central Command, AFD, U.S. Military Training Mission, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
10. March 2008 – May 2011, Deputy and Chief of Fighter Inspections, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
11. May 2011 – August 2014, Operations Group Director of Staff, Director of Operations, and Commander, 493rd Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
12. January 2014 – May 2014, Commander, 48th Air Expeditionary Group, NATO Baltic Air Policing, Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania
13. August 2014 – July 2015, Chief, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
14. July 2015 – August 2016, student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
15. August 2016 – July 2017, Chief of Staff, Train, Advisor Assistant Command-Air, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Forward Operating Base Oqab, Kabul, Afghanistan
16. August 2017 – Present, Vice Commander, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 2600
Combat Hours: 145
Primary Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38B, F-15A/B/C/D, C-208B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
NATO Medal
PUBLICATIONS
“Strategic Landpower and a Resurgent Russia: An Operational Approach To Deterrence,” Strategic Studies Institute, 2016
“Nuts And Bolts Solutions To Deter A Resurgent Russia,” War On The Rocks, 2016
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Dec. 20, 1994
First Lieutenant Dec. 20, 1996
Captain Dec. 20, 1998
Major March 1, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2010
Colonel July 1, 2016
(Current as of April 2018)