Lieutenant Colonel David R. Gottlieb is the United States Strategic Command’s Joint Warfare Analysis Center Vice Director. He leads 450 operations research analysts, scientists, engineers and support staff chartered to deliver model-based systems engineering and in-depth targeting solutions to Department of Defense warfighters.
Lieutenant Colonel Gottlieb commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in May 2004 from San Diego State University and attended the Combat Systems Officer course at Randolph AFB, Texas from August 2005 to June 2006. Upon graduation Lieutenant Colonel Gottlieb was assigned to the 338th Combat Training Squadron at Offutt AFB, NE where he learned to become and Electronic Warfare Officer on the RC-135U COMBAT SENT. He then joined the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron at Offutt AFB, NE where he deployed over 12 times worldwide in support of the Global War on Terrorism, Operations IRAQI & ENDURING FREEDOM, and various Sensitive Reconnaissance Operations flights in PACOM, EUCOM and CENTCOM. He also deployed to Iraq during OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE where he worked at the U.S. Embassy as the ISR Foreign Military Sales Case Manager working security cooperation to build partner capacity for the country of Iraq. He served as the 338th Combat Training Squadron as the Director of Operations, responsible for the training over 500 US and Great Britain students annually in 32 crew positions and 6 different aircraft types. He took command of the 21st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron in Souda Bay, Greece, operating ISR missions throughout the European theater. Post Command, Lt Col Gottlieb served in the Logistics Directorate at Headquarters, EUCOM serving as the Chief, EUCOM Deployment and Distribution Operations Center primarily focused on Security Force Assistance for Ukraine.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, San Diego State University, CA
2004 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2006 Combat Systems Officer Course, Randolph Air Force Base, TX
2007 COMBAT SENT Formal Training, Offutt Air Force Base, NE
2009 Masters of Business Administration and Management, Touro University International, CA
2009 Central Flight Instructor Course (CFIC), Offutt Air Force Base, NE
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2019 Air War College, Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2004 - April 2005, Standardization and Evaluations Officer, 57th Weapons Squadron, McGuire AFB, NJ.
2. May 2005 - April 2006, Electronic Warfare Officer Student, 563rd Formal Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. May 2006 - April 2007, Student Electronic Warfare Officer, 338th Combat Training Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
4. May 2007 - April 2008, COMBAT SENT Electronic Warfare Officer, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
5. May 2008 - April 2010, Operations Scheduler, Evaluator EWO, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
6. May 2010 - April 2011, Deputy Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
7. May 2011 - February 2012, COMBAT SENT Flight Commander, C Flight, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
8. April 2012 - August 2012, 55th Operations Group Commanders Action Group, 55th Operations Group, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9. September 2012 - April 2014, ISR Tasking and Requirements Officer, National Security Agency, Buckley AFB, Colo
10. May 2014 - July 2015, ADO, COMBAT SENT Program Manager, National Security Agency, Buckley AFB, Colo
11. August 2015 - April 2017, Branch Chief, Joint Test Execution, AF Joint Test Program Office, Nellis AFB, Nev.
12. April 2017- July 2018, Deputy Division Chief, Joint Test Development, AF Joint Test Program Office, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. July 2018 - May 2019, Director of Staff, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
14. May 2019 - January 2020, Director of Staff, 55th Operations Group, Offutt AFB, Neb.
15. January 2020 - July 2020, Director of Operations, 338th Combat Training Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
16. July 2020 - July 2021, Commander, 21st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, NSA Souda Bay, Greece
17. July 2021 - July 2024, Chief, EUCOM Deployment and Distribution Operations Center, USAG Stuttgart, Germany
18. July 2024 - June 2025, Military Deputy, SOCSOUTH J5 Strategy, Plans, and Assessments, Homestead ARB, Fla.
19. June 2025 - Present, Vice Director, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, USSTRATCOM, Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2021 - July 2024, Chief, EUCOM Deployment and Distribution Operations Center, USAG Stuttgart, Germany
2. July 2024 - June 2025, Military Deputy, SOCSOUTH J5 Strategy, Plans, and Assessments, Homestead ARB, Fla.
3. June 2025 - Present, Vice Director, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, USSTRATCOM, Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Master Combat Systems Officer (Instructor/Evaluator)
Flight hours: 2,292
Combat hours: 103
Aircraft flown: RC-135U, RC-135V, T-43, T-1
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Aerial Achievement Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Commendation Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 02 June 2004
First Lieutenant 02 June 2006
Captain 02 June 2008
Major 01 October 2014
Lieutenant Colonel 01 April 2019
(Current as of June 2025)