Col Beau E. Diers is the Deputy Commander, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. With approximately 4,200 Active Duty military members, nearly 300 U.S. civilians and 700 Italian civilian employees, the wing conducts and supports air combat operations and maintains munitions for NATO.
The wing’s diverse mission sets are executed by Airmen that fly, maintain, and support two F-16CM Fighting Falcon fighter squadrons, two MQ-9 expeditionary attack squadrons, two combat search and rescue squadrons equipped with HH-60 Pavehawks and Pararescue Airmen, U.S. Air Forces Europe’s only air control squadron, as well as agile combat support squadrons, medical squadrons, and numerous wing staff agencies.
Col Diers entered the Air Force after graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and receiving his commission through the Reserve Officer Training program in 2003. He attended Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, TX, and then initial F-16 training at Luke AFB, AZ.
Col Diers is a command pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours in the T-37, (A)T-38 and F-16. His past assignments include Squadron Commander, Director of Operations, United States Senate Legislative Fellow, USAF Weapons School Instructor pilot, Chief of Wing Standardization and Evaluation, Flight Commander, F-16 Flight Examiner, and both a Squadron and deployed Wing Weapons Officer. Col Diers has flown over 1,300 combat hours in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, UNIFIED PROTECTOR, ENDURING FREEDOM, RESOLUTE SUPPORT and INHERENT RESOLVE executing Close Air Support, Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses, Offensive and Defensive Counter Air missions.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ
2004 Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, TX
2005 F-16 Basic Course, Luke AFB, AZ
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 United States Air Force Weapons School, F-16 Division, Nellis AFB, NV
2014 Masters of Business Administration, Trident University, Cypress, CA
2014 Air Command and Staff College by correspondence, Maxwell AFB AL
2016 Certificate in Government Studies, The Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University, DC
2021 Masters of Military Studies, Marine Corps University, Quantico, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
May 2003 – Aug 2004, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, TX
Dec 2004 – Jan 2005, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, TX
Feb 2005 – Nov 2005, F-16 Basic Course, Luke AFB, AZ
Dec 2005 – Jul 2007, 4-ship FL and ass’t Chief of Weapons, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, ROK
Jul 2007 – Dec 2008, Chief of StanEval, 23rd Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
Jan 2009 – Jul 2010, FLT/CC and Instructor Pilot, 23rd Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
Jul 2010 – Dec 2010, Student, United States Air Force Weapons School, F-16 Division, Nellis AFB, NV
Jan 2011 – Apr 2013, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 55th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, SC
May 2013 – Dec 2014, Chief of Standardization & Evaluation, Evaluator Pilot, 57 WG, Nellis AFB, NV
Dec 2014 – Jul 2015, Ass’t Director of Operations, Weapons/Integration Phase Manager, 16 Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
Jul 2015 – Jan 2017, Legislative Liaison Fellow, Office of U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, Washington DC
May 2017 – Jun 2018, Director of Operations, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
Jun 2018 – Jun 2020, Commander, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
Jul 2020 – Jul 2021, Student, Marine Corps War College, Quantico, VA
Jul 2021 – Feb 2022, NATO AIRCOM A5 Policy Staff Officer
Feb 2022 – Jun 2023, Military Assistant to the Commander NATO Allied Air Command, Ramstein AB, Germany
Jul 2023 – Present, Deputy Commander, 31st Fighter Wing
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal, four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with Valor
Air Medal with Combat Device, two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal, nine oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Meda
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air & Space Campaign Medal
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVMENTS
2003 Reserve Officer Training Corps Distinguished Graduate
2010 United States Air Force Weapons School Flying Award
2011 Air Combat Command Mackay Trophy nominee
2012 United States Air Force Chennault Award Winner
2013 Air Combat Command Shine Award nominee
PUBLICATIONS
Incorporating MALD in the SEAD/DEAD Gameplan, United States Air Force Weapons School Student Paper, 2010
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 3,400
Primary Aircraft flown: F-16C/D
(Current as of 2 Aug 2023)