Col. Sean “Olé” Baerman commands the 23d Fighter Group, "Flying Tigers" at Moody AFB, GA. He directs the flying and support operations of the Combat Air Force’s (CAF) largest A-10 operational fighter group consisting of; two combat-ready A-10C Thunderbolt II squadrons, an operations support squadron, and an air force range squadron--the 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons, the 23d Operations Support Squadron, and the 598th Range Squadron.
Col. Baerman was commissioned in 1999 as a distinguished graduate at the United States Air Force Academy. He has served in a variety of positions at the squadron, group, wing and Unified Combatant Command levels, including a selection as an Olmsted Scholar in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has deployed in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, RESOLUTE SUPPORT and is also a Latin America Regional Affairs Strategist/Foreign Area Officer.
Col. Baerman is command pilot with more than 3,200 hours, including 477 combat hours. He is a basic parachutist with 1,384 jumps.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science in Biology, United States Air Force Academy, CO
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2008 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
2008 Air Command and Staff College in correspondence
2010 Marine Corps Command and Staff College in correspondence
2012 PhD Candidate, Universidad de Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2014 Air War College in correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2000 – September 2001, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okl.
2. October 2001 – May 2002, Student, A-10 Formal Training Unit, 358th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
3. June 2002 – March 2005, A-10A Flight Lead; Weapons Training Officer, 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
4. April 2005 – April 2007, A-10A Instructor Pilot; Chief of Training, 51st Operational Support Squadron; later, Flight Commander, 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, South Korea
5. April 2007 – June 2010, A-10C Flight Examiner; Flight Commander, 358th Fighter Squadron, later Deputy Chief, Operations Group Standardization and Evaluations, 355th Operations Group, 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
6. July 2010 – December 2012, Olmsted Scholar Program, Buenos Aires, Argentina
7. January 2013 – February 2015, Chief, Strategic Initiatives; later, Executive Officer, Policy, Plans and Strategy Directorate (J-5), US Southern Command, Miami, Fla.
8. February 2015 – July 2016, Director of Operations, 98th Flying Training Squadron, USAF Academy, Colo.
9. July 2016 – May 2018, Commander, 98th Flying Training Squadron, USAF Academy, Colo.
10. June 2018 – September 2019, Director of Staff, 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
11. February 2020 – June 2020, Deputy Commander 355th Maintenance Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
12. July 2020 – June 2021, Deputy Director Air, Space and Information Operations, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
13. July 2021-Present, Commander, 23d Fighter Group, Moody AFB, Ga.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2013 – February 2015, Chief, Strategic Initiatives, later, Executive Officer Policy, Plans and Strategy Directorate (J-5), US Southern Command, Miami, Fla. as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot and basic parachutist
Flight hours: more than 3,200 hours, including 477 in combat
Aircraft flown: A-10C, A/OA-10A, UV-18B, AT-38, T-38 and T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one silver oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and three oak leaf clusters
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Dec. 21, 1999
First Lieutenant Dec. 21, 2001
Captain Dec. 21, 2003
Major Aug. 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 2015
Colonel Dec. 1, 2020
(Current as of July 2021)