Col. James Hayes is the Deputy Commander at 412th Test Wing (TW), Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), Calif. He fulfills duties to support the commander of the Air Force’s 2nd largest installation comprised of 7,700 personnel across 10 groups. He provides direction to execute a $50 million annual test project portfolio which spans 17 different aircraft types worth $12 billion.
Col Hayes earned his commission at the United States Air Force Academy in May 2002. He then attended Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas and received his pilot wings in May of 2004. He attended training for the B-1B and then flew the B-1 operationally at Ellsworth AFB, S.D. During this tour, he deployed to the CENTCOM AOR and supported Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. Following this assignment, he transitioned to flying the B-2A at Whiteman AFB, Mo. He deployed twice to the PACOM AOR to support the Combined Bomber Presence. After this assignment, he was accepted into the USAF Test Pilot School (TPS), Class 12B at Edwards AFB, Calif. Upon graduation, he was a B-1 and B-2 test pilot at the 419th Flight Test Squadron working on the test program portfolios for each weapon system. After this test tour, he attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Ala. He then returned USAF TPS as an instructor where he instructed students on the fundamentals of flight test in the F-16D and T-38C. He then assumed command of the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan and flew the E-11A, known the Battlefield Airborne Communication Node. Upon return from this deployment, he was a member of the Joint Staff Innovation Group at the Pentagon. Prior to his current position, Col Hayes was the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director for Requirements and Capability Development, J-8, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Master of Business Administration, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Master of Science, Flight Test Engineering, United States Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
2016 Master of Military Operational Air and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2002 – February 2003, Executive Officer, 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2. February 2003 – August 2004, Student Pilot, 80th Operational Support Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. September 2004 – December 2005, B-1 Initial Qualification Course Student, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
4. January 2006 – March 2008, B-1 Aircraft Commander, 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D. (February 2007 – July 2007, Mobility Officer, Al Udeid, Air Base, Qatar)
5. March 2008 – June 2012, Assistant Director of Operations, 13th BS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
6. July 2012 – June 2013, Student, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
7. June 2013 – July 2015, Assistant Director of Operations, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
8. July 2015 – July 2016, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. September 2016 – June 2019, Chief of Mission Support Division, USAF TPS, Edwards AFB, Calif.
10. June 2019 – June 2020, Commander, 430th Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
11. June 2020 – June 2022, Deputy Division Chief of Joint Staff Innovation Group, J-8, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2022 – June 2023, Executive Assistant to Deputy Director of Requirements and Capability Development, J-8, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2023 – September 2024, Chief of Safety, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, Calif.
14. September 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, Calif.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2020 – July 2023, Deputy Division Chief Joint Staff Innovation Group/Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director for Requirements and Capability Development, J-8, Pentagon, as a Lieutenant Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: 3,621
Aircraft flown: F-16C/D, T-38C, E-11A, B-2A, T-38A, B-1B, and 44 other types
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters and four “C” devices
Air Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Distinguished Graduate, United States Air Force Academy
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Associate Member, Society of Experimental Test Pilots
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
Major March 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel February 1, 2017
Colonel November 1, 2023
(Current as of October 2024)
Col. James Hayes, 412th Test Wing Deputy Commander