Col. Anne Ridlon is the Commander, 513th Air Control Group at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. The 513th is the
only Air Force Reserve unit that maintains and operates the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control
System. As Commander, Col. Ridlon leads nearly 400 combat-ready personnel across four squadrons
responsible for E-3 AWACS operations, maintenance and operations support.
Col. Ridlon is from Madison, Wis. and is a 1999 graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor’s of
Science in Behavioral Science. She graduated from Officer Training School in December of 2003,
Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Training at Tyndall AFB in 2005, then earned her wings in April of 2006 at
Tinker AFB, Okla. Col. Ridlon then served at Kadena AB, Japan as Officer in Charge of Awards and
Decorations in the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron then Chief of Wing Command and Control Plans, as
well as Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for the 18th Wing. Next, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,
she served as the Deputy Chief of Current Operations, Assistant Flight Commander, and Operations Group
Executive Officer as well as Assistant Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. Col. Ridlon graduated from USAF
Weapons Instructor Course in June of 2011, then served at Osan AB, Republic of Korea as Chief of Weapons
and Tactics for the 621st Air Control Squadron. She returned to Kadena for her last active duty assignment
as Wing Chief of Command and Control Weapons and Tactics, then Assistant Director of Operations for the
18th Operations Support Squadron.
Col. Ridlon joined the 513th Air Control Group at Tinker AFB, Okla. in 2015 and served as Chief of Wing
Weapons and Tactics and Assistant Director of Operations for the 513th Operations Support Squadron prior
to taking command. During this time, she also augmented Pacific Air Forces as Deputy Exercise Director for
Joint Exercises VALIANT SHIELD and NORTHERN EDGE and Deputy Contingency Plans Lead for Exercise
NEPTUNE HAWK. She moved to her current position in the National Capital Region in January of 2022.
Col. Ridlon is a Command Air Battle Manager with 150 combat hours and over 2,000 total hours in the E-
3B/C/G.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Behavioral Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison
2003 USAF Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Aerospace Basic Course, Residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
2012 Master of Arts, Military History, American Military University, Non-residence
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Non-residence
2023 Air War College, Non-residence
2024 Reserve Components National Security Course
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2004 – May 2006, Student, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager training, 325th Air Control
Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
2. May 2006 – July 2008, E-3 Air Weapons Officer, Assistant Chief of Plans, Officer in Charge of Awards and
Decorations, and Chief of Command and Control Plans, 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron and 18th
Operations Support Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
3. July 2008 – July 2011, E-3 Instructor and Evaluator Air Weapons Officer and Senior Director, Deputy Chief
of Current Operations, Assistant Flight Commander and Operations Group Executive Officer, 962nd Airborne
Air Control Squadron and 3rd Operations Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
4. July 2011 – July 2013, Master Control and Reporting Center Instructor Senior Director and Chief of
Weapons and Tactics, 621st Air Control Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
5. July 2013 – September 2015, E-3 Evaluator Senior Director, Chief of Command and Control Weapons and
Tactics, and Assistant Director of Operations, Kadena AB, Japan6. September 2015 – October 2019, E-3
Mission Crew Commander and Instructor Senior Director, Chief of Wing Tactics, and Assistant Director of
Operations, 970th Airborne Air Control Squadron and 513th Operations Support Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
7. October 2019 – February 2022, E-3 Mission Crew Commander and Commander, 513th Operations Support
Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla. (April – August 2021, Deployed in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE)
8. Mar 2022 – May 2023, Chief of Command & Control, Globally Integrated Intelligence Surveillance and
Reconnaissance Programming, Headquarters Air Force, REXP, Pentagon, Wash DC
9. June 2023 – July 2024, Deputy Chief, Plans, Programs & Requirements Division, Headquarters Air Force,
REXP, Pentagon, Wash DC
10. July 2024 – Present, 513th Air Control Group, Tinker AFB, Okla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Air Battle Manager
Flight Hours: More than 2,000, including 150 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: E-3 B/C/G
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Korean Defense Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 Pacific Air Forces Air Battle Manager of the Year Award
2012 Pacific Air Forces Crew of the Year Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, December 19, 2003
First Lieutenant, December 19, 2005
Captain, December 19, 2007
Major, December 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel, August 19, 2019
Colonel, July 9, 2024
(Current as of July 2024)