Colonel Travis T. Boltjes is the Commander of the Western Air Defense Sector (WADS), Washington Air National Guard, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. As the commander, he is responsible for peacetime air sovereignty, strategic air defense, and airborne counterdrug operations in the continental United States west of the Mississippi River. WADS detects, identifies, tracks and scrambles fighters to intercept unknown or threatening airborne objects as part of its mission to guard America's skies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over nearly 73% of the United States.
Colonel Boltjes received his commission from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y. in 2002. He went on to complete undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi in 2004. He is a command pilot with more than 1,500 flight hours in the F-16C/CM/D. Colonel Boltjes has served in various command, operational, and staff assignments, manned alert fighter aircraft in support of Operation Noble Eagle, and deployed four times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Prior to assuming his current position, Colonel Boltjes served as the Chief of Staff at Continental North American Aerospace Defense Command Region– 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern & Air Forces Space), Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Intermodal Transportation, United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y.
2008 Signature Management Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2010 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2012 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2013 Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Course, Washington, D.C.
2013 Contingency Wartime Planning Course (CWPC), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Leadership in Homeland Security, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2015 Accelerated Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course (AAMOC), Sheppard AFB, Texas
2016 Air War College, by correspondence
2018 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
2019 Master of Public Policy, The George Washington University, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2003– August 2004, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. August 2004–October 2004, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
3. October 2004–October 2005, F-16 Formal Training Course, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
4. October 2005–November 2010, Combat Mission Ready F-16 Pilot, 175th Fighter Squadron, Sioux Falls, S. D.
5. November 2010–October 2012, Action Group Program Manager, National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
6. October 2012–March 2014, Combat Aviation Plans Officer, National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
7. March 2014–May 2015, Assistant Executive to the Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. May 2015–February 2017, Commander, 114th Maintenance Squadron, South Dakota ANG, Joe Foss Field, S. D.
9. February 2017–August 2017, Special Assistant to NGB-J5, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
10. August 2017–June 2018, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. June 2018–June 2020, Senior Policy Development Analyst, Office of the Under Secretary for Defense for Policy, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
12. June 2020–December 2022, Chief of Staff, Continental North American Aerospace Defense Command Region – 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space), Tyndall AFB, Fla.
13. December 2022–Present, Commander, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2018–June 2020, Senior Policy Development Analyst, Office of the Under Secretary for Defense for Policy, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 1500
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38C, F-16C/CM/D
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Iraq Campaign Medal with three bronze stars
South Dakota Distinguished Service Ribbon
South Dakota Distinguished Unit Citation
South Dakota National Guard Service Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 24, 2002
First Lieutenant May 24, 2004
Captain May 24, 2006
Major June 12, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 21, 2014
Colonel April 26, 2018
(Current as of January 2023)