Colonel Walter Ehman is the Commander of the 149th Fighter Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. He is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping over 1,070 personnel for worldwide deployment and flying training operations. The wing’s various missions include F-16 initial qualification training with 28 assigned aircraft, defensive cyber operations, CBRN emergency response operations, security forces Desert Defender ground combat training, air base defense and heavy weapons employment, combat weather support to the US Army, and air-to-ground bombing range operation and management. The 149th Fighter Wing also provides ready forces to the Governor and the Texas Military Department to aid in domestic disaster response and defense support of civil authorities.
Col. Ehman received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 2003 after graduating from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He completed Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, Texas. Following pilot training and F-16 initial qualification, he served in various operational units in Air Combat Command and as an Air Liaison Officer in United States Air Forces Europe. During this time, he deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, twice to South Korea for a Theater Support Package, and supported Operation NOBLE EAGLE. After his last active-duty assignment, he joined the Texas Air National Guard. He held positions as Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Director of Operations, and Fighter Squadron Commander. During this time, he also served as a Fighter and Total Force Assignment Officer at the Air Force Personnel Center and attended Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Col. Ehman is a command pilot with more than 2,200 hours in the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Prior to assuming his current position, the colonel served as the commander of the 149th Maintenance Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
2009 Joint Firepower Course, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Masters of Business Administration, Corporate Finance, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minn., by correspondence
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2022 Masters of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2023 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Kirtland AFB, Nev., by correspondence
2024 Air National Guard Squadron Commander’s Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
- December 2003–May 2005, Student Undergraduate Pilot Training, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
- May 2005–August 2005, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 479th Flying Training Group, Moody AFB, Ga.
- August 2005–July 2006, F-16 Student Pilot, 149th Fighter Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas
- July 2006–May 2009, Scheduling Officer, Training Officer, and Life Support Officer, 79th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C. (November 2006—May 2009, F-16 Pilot, 79th Fighter Squadron, Operation NOBLE EAGLE), (January 2008–April 2008, Life Support Officer, 79th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea)
- May 2009–May 2012, Air Liaison Officer, 4th Air Support Operations Group, Camp Ederle, Vicenza, Italy (November 2009–November 2010, Air Liaison Officer, 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group, Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan)
- May 2012–September 2015, Aircrew Flight Equipment Officer and Flight Commander, 388 Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah (January 2013–April 2013, Standardization and Evaluation Liaison Officer, 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, South Korea), (October 2014–May 2015, Flight Commander, 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan)
- September 2015–December 2016, Training Officer, 149th Fighter Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
- December 2016–December 2017, Fighter and Total Force Assignment Officer, Air Force Personnel Center, JB Randolph, Texas
- December 2017–June 2021, Standardization and Evaluation Liaison Officer, Flight Commander, and Director of Operations, 149th Fighter Wing, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
- July 2021–June 2022, Student, College of Naval Warfare, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
- July 2022—November 2022, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 149th Fighter Wing, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
- November 2022—January 2024, Commander, 182nd Fighter Squadron, 149th Fighter Wing, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
- January 2024–August 2024, Commander, 149th Maintenance Group, 149th Fighter Wing, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
- August 2024–present, Commander, 149th Fighter Wing, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,200
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-38, F-16
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three service stars
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Distinguished Graduate, ROTC
2005 Distinguished Graduate, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals
2006 Air-to-Air Top Gun, 149th Fighter Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas
2008 Flight Lead of the Quarter, 20th Operations Group
2009 Top Academic Award, Joint Terminal Attack Controller Qualification Course
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Air Liaison Officer Qualification Course
2010 CGO of the Year, 8th Air Support Operations Squadron
2010 USAFE Air Liaison Officer of the Year
2011 CGO of the Year, 8th Air Support Operations Squadron
2011 Sijan Leadership Award nominee, 4th Air Support Operations Group
2012 Flight Commander of the Quarter, 388th Operations Support Squadron
2013 CGO of the Quarter, 388th Operations Support Squadron
2014 FGO of the Quarter, 4th Fighter Squadron
2014 Flight Commander of the Quarter, 388th Operations Group
2015 Instructor Pilot of the Quarter, 4th Fighter Squadron
2019 Colonel James Witt Award, 149th Fighter Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2003
First Lieutenant May 28, 2005
Captain May 28, 2007
Major October 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel January 24, 2019
Colonel July 1, 2024
(Current as of August 2024)