LIEUTENANT COLONEL CINDY M. TOPE

Lt Col Tope is the Commander at the 23d Flying Training Squadron, Fort Rucker AIN, Alabama. She is responsible for all training and flying operations for the Air Force’s only rotary wing undergraduate pilot training unit. The 23 FTS executes the 58th Special Operations Wing’s largest flying hour program, totaling 10,063 flight hours, operates 28 TH-1H helicopters and produces more than 100 undergraduate pilots and special mission aviators per year.

Lt Col Tope flew the UH-1N to provide missile field security and maintenance support at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana and airlift support for the National Capital Region at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Prior to her current position, Lt Col Tope was the Chief of Joint Training Programs, Joint United States Military Assistance Group, US Embassy in Manila, Philippines.

Lt Col Tope received her commission in 2008 from the United States Air Force Academy. Lt Col Tope has been an instructor and evaluator pilot in the UH-1N. She is a senior pilot with more than 2,300 flight hours.

EDUCATION

2008 Bachelor of Science, Behavioral Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.

2008 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2014 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2017 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2020 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

2021 Master of Arts, National Security Affairs, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, Calif.

ASSIGNMENTS

1.     May 2008—June 2009, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.

2.     June 2009–May 2010, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training-Rotary Wing, Fort Rucker AIN, Ala.

3.     May 2010–August 2010, Student, UH-1N Mission Pilot Initial Qualification Course, 512th Rescue Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.

4.     August 2010–June 2014, UH-1N Instructor Pilot, Scheduling Officer, Squadron Safety Officer, 40th Helicopter Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFGSC), Mont.

5.     June 2014–March 2018, UH-1N Instructor and Evaluator Pilot, Simulator Program Manager, Chief of Flight Safety, Flight Commander, Chief of Standardizations and Evaluations, 1st Helicopter Squadron and 811 Operations Support Squadron, 11th Wing (AFDW), Joint Base Andrews, Md.

6.     March 2018–December 2019, Student, Foreign Area Officer Fellowship-Japanese Basic Language Course, 314th Training Squadron, Presidio of Monterey, Calif.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Senior Pilot

Flight hours: More than 2,300

Aircraft flown: T-6, UH-1H, TH-1H, UH-1N

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal

Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force Commendation Medal

Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant May 28,2008 First Lieutenant May 28, 2010

Captain May 29, 2012

Major February 1, 2018

Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2023 

(Current as of July 2025)