Lieutenant Colonel Golda T. Eldridge Jr

LIEUTENANT COLONEL GOLDA T. ELDRIDGE JR. UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

Lt. Col Golda T. Eldridge Jr. attended college at the University of Nebraska, graduating in 1986 with a double major in Literature and History. He received his commission in the Air Force thru ROTC in Dec 1986. He attended pilot training at Columbus AFB in class 88-05 and was awarded his wings in April 1988. Following pilot training, Lt. Col Eldridge was assigned to the 2nd Airborne Command and Control Squadron as a copilot flying the Strategic Airborne Command’s Airborne Command Post. In 1990, he was transferred to the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron eventually qualifying as an evaluator pilot. While in the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron he participated in Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM, PROVEN FORCE, and supported operations in the Balkans. In 1994, Lt Col Eldridge was assigned to the 5th Air Force Reconnaissance Operations Center (ROC), Yokota Air Base, Japan as Reconnaissance Operations Officer. He assisted in relocating the ROC to Hawaii in 1995 continuing as the Reconnaissance Operations Officer, eventually taking over as the Chief, Pacific Reconnaissance Operations Center. In 1998, Lt. Col Eldridge was assigned to the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance AFB as a T-37 pilot training instructor, Flight Commander and Assistant Director of Operations 33rd Flying Training Squadron before being selected as the Chief, 71st Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation. In 2002 Lt. Col Eldridge transferred to the 55th Wing where he worked in Wing Plans and Programs as Chief of Exercise and later as Chief of Contingency Plans. In 2005 Lt. Col Eldridge was selected to be the Commander, Detachment 1, 95th Reconnaissance Squadron located on the island of Crete. He served there 1 year before being selected in 2006 as Commander, Detachment 845, Texas Christian University, AFROTC. Lt. Col Eldridge recently completed his doctorate in Educational Leadership at Texas Christian University.

The Lieutenant Colonel was a command pilot with over 5,400 hours in reconnaissance, refueling, trainer, and OSA aircraft.

EDUCATION: 1986 Bachelor of Arts in Literature and History, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1988 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Class 88-05, Columbus AFB, MS 1993 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL, Distinguished Graduate, (Correspondence & Residence) 1997 Air Command and Staff College (Seminar) 1997 Master of Science in Educational Leadership, Troy State University, AL 2005 Air War College (Correspondence) 2010 Doctorate in Educational Administration

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS: Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Medal Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters Joint Meritorious Unit Award AF Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster National Defense Service Medal with one service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

EFFECTIVE PROMOTION DATES: Second Lieutenant December 16, 1986 First Lieutenant February 5, 1988 Captain February 5, 1990 Major September 1, 1998 Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2003