Col. Daniel L. Cornelius is the 75th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The wing provides installation support for the Ogden Air Logistics Complex, two fighter wings, and over 50 other associate units, totaling 27,000 members consisting of active duty, civilian and contractor personnel. Additionally, the 75th Air Base Wing directly supports Air Expeditionary Forces operations and provides base operating support for the 1.1-million-acre Utah Test and Training Range.

Colonel Cornelius commissioned in 1999 as a distinguished graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at the University of Cincinnati. He has a diverse background in fighter, mobility, and remotely piloted aircraft maintenance, and has served as a staff officer at an Air Logistics Center, a major command, on the Air Staff, Joint Staff, and in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Cornelius has deployed in support of Operations NORTHERN and SOUTHERN WATCH, NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, CJTF-Horn of Africa, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s African Union Mission in Sudan. Prior to his current position, he was the 402nd Aircraft Maintenance Group commander at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.

EDUCATION

1999    Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

1999    Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2000    Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas

2002    Master of Arts in Business Administration, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.

2004    Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2004    Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, Nellis AFB, Nev.

2008    Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 

2011    Air Force Intern Program (IDE), Strategic Policy Intern, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

2013    Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

2017    Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.

2022    Aviation Industrial Readiness Program, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C.

2022    Executive Champion Six Sigma Certification, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.

ASSIGNMENTS 

1. August 1999 - July 2002, various maintenance positions culminating as Accessories Flight Commander, 92nd Maintenance Squadron, 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild AFB, Wash.

2. August 2002 - May 2005, Lead Structural Engineer, AC-130H Gunship; Deputy Section Chief, C-130 Production Branch; and later, Deputy Chief, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Commander’s Action Group, Robins AFB, Ga.

3. June 2005 - April 2007, Officer-In-Charge, 37th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 86th Aircraft Generation Squadron, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base (AB), Germany

4. April 2007 - May 2008, Special Action Officer for the Commander, United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany

5. May 2008 - July 2010, Officer-in-Charge, Raptor Aircraft Maintenance Unit, and later, Maintenance Operations Officer, 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.

6. July 2010 - June 2011, Air Force Intern Program (IDE), Strategic Policy Intern with duties in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense and Headquarters Air Force’s Checkmate Office, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

7. June 2011 - June 2013, Commander, 849th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.

8. June 2013 - June 2015, Action Officer, Strategy and Readiness Division, and later, Chief, J4 Strategy Branch, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

9. June 2015 - July 2016, Executive Assistant to the Vice Director, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

10. July 2016 - June 2017,    Student, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.

11. June 2017 - May 2019, Deputy Commander, 51st Maintenance Group, Osan AB, Republic of Korea

12. May 2019 - June 2020, Executive Officer to the Commander, 7th Air Force, Osan AB, Republic of Korea

13. June 2020 - June 2021, Commander, 8th Maintenance Group, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea

14. June 2021 - June 2024, Commander, 402nd Aircraft Maintenance Group, WR-ALC, Robins AFB, Ga.

15. July 2024 - Present, Commander, 75th Air Base Wing, Hill AFB, Utah

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

June 2013 - July 2016, Action Officer, J4 Strategy and Readiness Division; Chief, J4 Strategy Branch; and later, Executive Assistant to the Vice Director, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a major and lieutenant colonel

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Superior Service Medal

Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster

Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

1999 Distinguished Graduate, ROTC

2000 Distinguished Graduate, Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course

2004 Top Third Graduate, Squadron Officer School

2005 USAFE Lt Gen Leo Marquez Award Winner

2012 ACC Maintenance Effectiveness Award as a Squadron Commander

2017 Distinguished Graduate, Naval War College, Graduated with “Highest Distinction” (Top 5%)

2021 AFMC Outstanding Depot Maintenance Manager of the Year 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION 

Second Lieutenant, June 12, 1999

First Lieutenant, July 11, 2001

Captain, July 11, 2003

Major, June 1, 2009

Lieutenant Colonel, December 1, 2013

Colonel, January 1, 2020

(Current as of July 2024)