Colonel Chris Keithley is the Commander, 96th Test Wing, Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He leads more than 10,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel, in accomplishing the 96th TW’s missions of developmental testing and evaluation of conventional munitions, command and control systems, aircraft avionics and guidance systems, and radar cross section measurement. The 96th TW has eight groups and 32 squadrons, operates 38 uniquely modified test aircraft, and manages 120,000 square miles of over-water test ranges plus facilities in six states. He also directs all base operating support, infrastructure and services support for the Air Force’s largest installation at 726 square miles. The 96th TW hosts nine tenant wings and wing equivalent units — to include the 33rd Fighter Wing (F-35 Joint Strike Fighter), 53rd Wing (Operational Test), 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training Center — and 37 other associate units including the U.S. Army 6th Ranger Training Battalion and the 20th Space Surveillance Squadron. As commander, he interacts with local officials across a three-county, 11-city region with an annual military economic impact of $10.8 billion.
He earned his commission in 2000 from the United States Air Force Academy. He later served in a variety of operational, training, test, and staff positions, deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Colonel Keithley is a command pilot with over 2,300 hours in a variety of aircraft.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
2010 Master of Science in Operations Research, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga.
2014 Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Washington, D.C.
2015 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Security Studies Program Military Fellow, Cambridge, Mass.
2019 Program for Leadership Development, Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2000 – September 2001, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, Miss.
2. October 2001 – January 2002, student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 49th Fighter Training Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
3. February 2002 – July 2002, student, F-15C Basic Course, 1st Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. August 2002 – February 2004, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 19th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
5. February 2004 – September 2004, Assistant Chief of Weapons and Electronic Combat Pilot, 19th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
6. September 2004 – September 2005, Chief of F-15C Tactics, 3d Operational Support Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
7. September 2005 – December 2006, Assistant Chief of Weapons, 435th Fighter Trainer Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
8. January 2007 – June 2007, Chief of Weapons, 435th Fighter Trainer Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
9. June 2007 – December 2007, T-38 Instructor Pilot, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
10. January 2008 – December 2008, student, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
11. January 2008 – January 2009, Chief of Scheduling and Weapons Flight Commander, 416th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
12. February 2010 – July 2013, Assistant Operations Officer and AFMC F-22A Command Chief Pilot, 411th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
13. July 2013 – July 2014, student, National Intelligence University, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2014 – June 2015, student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. June 2015 – June 2016, Director of Operations, 461st Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Ala.
16. June 2016 – June 2018, Commander and Director, 416th Flight Test Squadron, Global Power Fighter Combined Test Force, Edwards AFB, Calif.
17. July 2018 – June 2019, Security Studies Program Military Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
18. July 2019 – July 2020, Concept Lead, Joint Staff Innovation Group, J8, Pentagon
19. July 2020 – June 2021, Senior Military Assistant, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
20. June 2021 – July 2023, Data Masked
21. July 2023 – May 2024, Director, AF TENCAP
22. June 2024 – June 2026, Data Masked
23. June 2026-present, Commander, 96th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2019 – July 2020, Concept Lead, Joint Staff Innovation Group, J8, Pentagon, as a Lieutenant Colonel
2. July 2020 – June 2021, Senior Military Assistant, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot, Parachutist
Flight hours: More than 2,300
Aircraft flown: Over 35 different types, to include F-22A, F-15A/C/E/SA, F-35A/B/C, F-16A-D, and T-38A-C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2000
First Lieutenant May 31, 2002
Captain May 31, 2004
Major January 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel February 1, 2015
Colonel February 1, 2021
(CURRENT AS OF JUNE 2026)