Operations Officer 23d Flying Training Squadron

Lt Col Alex R. Magnuson is the Operations Officer at the 23 Flying Training Squadron, Fort Rucker, Alabama. He is responsible for Undergraduate Helicopter Training, which specializes in the training and flying operations for the Air Force’s rotary-wing aircrew training track. The squadron executes the 58th Special Operations Wing’s largest flying hour program, totaling over 10,000 flight hours, operating 27 TH-1Hs helicopters and producing more than 100 undergraduate pilots and special mission aviators per year.

Lt Col Magnuson entered the United States Air  Force  through  the ROTC program at the University of Minnesota. He completed J-SUPT at Laughlin AFB, TX, flying the T-6A Texan II. Lt Col Magnuson attended SUPT-H at Fort Rucker, AL, flying the TH-1H and UH-1H Huey. Lt Col Magnuson was then assigned to the   41 Rescue Squadron at Moody AFB, Georgia.  While flying the HH-60G, he deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s RESOLUTE SUPPORT mission and Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL operating in the sole personnel recovery squadron in Combined Joint Operating Area – Afghanistan. In 2016, Lt Col Magnuson was assigned to the 66 Rescue Squadron where he deployed to Iraq in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE, and other contingency operations. Lt Col Magnuson returned to the  23d  Flying  Training Squadron  in  2019 where he helped stand up the rotary wing only undergraduate helicopter training program.  In 2022, Lt Col Magnuson was assigned to Air Force Personnel Center where he served as the Air Force’s subject matter expert and team leader for all rated pipeline assignments for over 1300 active duty rated officers.

EDUCATION

2010 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

2010 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

2012 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX

2016 Master of Arts, Management, American Military University, Charles Town, West Virginia

2016 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

2021 Air Command and Staff Command College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY

1.  November 2010 – December 2011, Student, 47th Training Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas

2.  December 2011 – October 2012, Student, 23rd Flying Training Squadron, Fort Rucker, Alabama

3.  October 2012 – June 2013, Student, 512th Flying Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico

4.  June 2013 – May 2016, Pilot, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Georgia

5.  May 2016 – June 2019, Flight Lead, 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada

6. June 2019 – August 2022, Instructor Pilot, 23rd Flying Training Squadron, Fort Rucker, Alabama

7. August 2022 – June 2025, Assignment Officer, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas

8. June 2025 – Present, Operations Officer, 23rd Flying Training Squadron, Fort Rucker, Alabama

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating:  Senior Pilot

Flight Hours: 1875

Combat Hours: 111

Aircraft Flown: T-6A, UH-1H, TH-1H, HH-60G, HH-60W

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal

Air Medal

Aerial Achievement Medal

Air Force and Space Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters)

Air Force Achievement Medal

Meritorious Unit Award (1 Oak Leaf Cluster)

AF Outstanding Unit Award

Combat Readiness Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1 Service Star)

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border

Developmental Special Duty Ribbon

Air and Space Longevity Service (2 Oak Leaf Cluster)

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)

Air and Space Training Ribbon

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant July 30, 2010

First Lieutenant July 30, 2012

Captain July 30, 2014

Major June 1, 2020

Lieutenant Colonel  February 1, 2025

(Current as of July 2025)