Col John Trombetta is the Deputy Commander of the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center (AATC), Morris ANGB, Tucson, AZ. AATC equities include all F-16, F-35, F-15, A-10, C-130, MQ-9, HH-60, KC-135, KC-46, C-17, CSAR, C3BM, and Special Warfare test and development for the Air National Guard and AF Reserve. He executes test modernization priorities and briefs National Guard and Reserve leadership to develop budgeting and capability fielding strategies. As an experimental test pilot, he leads complex test missions supporting F-16C development programs based on warfighter requirements.
Col Trombetta is a 2004 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He served 15 years on active duty as an F-16 instructor and test pilot before joining the AF Reserves. Initially, Col Trombetta was assigned to Shaw AFB, SC where he completed over 100 combat sorties leading missions supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. He was then assigned to Luke AFB as an F-16 instructor pilot for both U.S. students and foreign partners. During this assignment, Col Trombetta completed an MBA degree while serving in multiple squadron and group level positions. Subsequently, he was selected for an in-residence aeronautical engineering master’s degree program at the Air Force Institute of Technology with a follow-on assignment to the USAF Test Pilot School. Upon graduation from TPS, Col Trombetta performed experimental flight test for the 416th FLTS at Edwards AFB, CA. He was then assigned to AATC as the active duty Operating Location-Alpha Director overseeing all F-16C developmental test for the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves. In 2019 while at AATC, Col Trombetta transitioned to the Air Force Reserves and has served in multiple positions to include program manager of the communications and datalink division and Director of Test Operations. Prior to his current position, Col Trombetta was the Chief of Standardization and Evaluations for 10th Air Force.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Master of Business Administration (MBA), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of Science, Flight Test Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2016 Master of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2023 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2004 - April 2005, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
- May 2005 - March 2006, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas
- April 2006 - May 2007, Student, F-16 Operational Training Course, 182nd Fighter Squadron, Lackland-Kelly Joint Base, Texas
- June 2007 - August 2010, Instructor Pilot – Chief of Scheduling, 77th FS, Shaw AFB, S.C. (June 2008 - September 2008, Combat Pilot, JB Balad, Iraq;
- January 2010 – May 2010, Combat Instructor Pilot, JB Balad, Iraq)
- September 2010 – April 2011, Chief of Training/F-16 Instructor Pilot, 62nd FS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- May 2011 – Jan 2012, Flight Commander/F-16 Evaluator Pilot, 62nd FS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- Feb 2012 – July 2013, Standards and Evaluations Flight Examiner, 56th Operations Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- August 2013 – November 2014, AFIT Masters Student, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
- December 2014 – December 2015, Student, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- January 2016 – November 2016, Assistant Director of Operations, 416th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- December 2016 – March 2019, Director Operating Location - Alpha, AATC, Morris ANGB, Tucson, Ariz.
- April 2019 – March 2022, Director of Cross Platform Integration and Datalinks, AATC, Morris ANGB, Tucson, Ariz.
- April 2022 – September 24, Director of Test Operations, AATC, Morris ANGB, Tucson, Ariz.
- October 24 - January 26, Chief Standards and Evaluations, 10th Air Force, NAS JRB Forth Worth, Texas
- February 26 - Present, Deputy Commander, AATC, Morris ANGB, Tucson, Ariz.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,800 hours including more than 380 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16, F-15E, A-10C, F/A-18, KC-135, MiG-15, C-12, T-6, and more
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Distinguished Graduate, United States Air Force Academy
2006 Distinguished Graduate, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training
2007 Miller Intelligence Award, F-16 Basic Course
2009 Company Grade Officer of the Year, 77th FS
2015 Distinguished Graduate, USAF Test Pilot School
2015 Liethen-Tittle Award – Top Pilot, USAF Test Pilot School
2016 Best Thesis in Flight Controls, Air Force Institute of Technology
2016 Field Grade Officer of the year, 416th FLTS
2019 Robert J. Collier Trophy for Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance Team, 412th TW
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2006
Captain June 2, 2008
Major May 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel January 1, 2019
Colonel October 1, 2024