Col Christopher M. Conant is the Deputy Commander, 53d Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The wing is comprised of more than 2,000 military and civilian personnel across 42 units at 16 diverse locations throughout the United States. The 53d Wing conducts fighter, bomber, combat search and rescue, and remotely-piloted air vehicle operational testing, evaluation, and tactics development. Additionally, the wing is responsible for the Air Force’s Weapons System Evaluation Program as well as electronic warfare optimization and reprogramming for fighter and bomber weapons systems.

Colonel Conant was commissioned in the Air Force in 2005 and began his flying career in the B-52. During his career he has served as a weapons officer, instructor pilot, pilot evaluator, and commander. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force B-2 Weapons School and is a Distinguished Graduate of Squadron Officer School, B-52 and B-2 training programs, and National War College. Colonel Conant was a nuclear scholar with the Center for Strategic and International Studies Project on Nuclear Issues, as well as an Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow, assigned to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Commander’s Action Group and State Department’s Intelligence and Research Bureau. Colonel Conant is a senior pilot with over 2,600 flight hours.

Prior to his current position, he served as the Director of Air Force Global Strike Command’s B-21 Integration Office, tasked with managing B-21 requirements for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Rapid Capability Office, and Air Force Global Strike Command at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.

EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of Portland, Portland, Ore.
2013 Master of Arts, National Security Studies, American Military University, Charleston, W. Va.
2017 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Joint Warfare Concentration, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2019 Master of Arts, Military Operational Studies, School of Advanced Warfighting, Marine Corps University, Quantico, Va.
2023 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2006 – March 2007, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Moody Air Force Base, Ga. and Laughlin AFB, Texas
2. April 2007 – May 2007, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 435th Fighter Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. June 2007 – December 2007, Student, F-15C Fighter Training, 143rd Fighter Wing, Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Ore.
4. January 2008 – August 2008, Student, B-52 Formal Training, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
5. September 2008 – March 2012, B-52 Flight Lead and Executive Officer to the Commander, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
6. April 2012 – July 2013, Student, B-2 Formal Training, 394th Combat Training Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
7. July 2013 – June 2015, B-2 Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander, 13th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
8. June 2015 – December 2015, B-2 Weapons Instructor Course, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
9. January 2016 – July 2017, B-2 Evaluator Pilot/Assistant Director of Operations, 394th Combat Training Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
10. August 2017 – July 2018, Air Force Fellow, Strategic Policy Fellowship, Washington, D.C.
11. July 2018 – July 2019, Student, School of Advanced Warfighting, Marine Corps University, Quantico, Va.
12. July 2019 – July 2020, Director of Operations, 509th Operational Support Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
13. July 2020 – June 2022, Commander, 393d Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
14. July 2022 – June 2023, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
15. June 2023 – May 2024, Deputy Director. B-21 Integration Office, Air Force Global Strike Command, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
16. May 2024 – Jun 2025, Director, B-21 Integration Office, Air Force Global Strike Command, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
17. July 2025 – present, Deputy Commander, 53d Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,600 hours
Aircraft Flown: T-6, T-38C, F-15D, F-15C, B-52H, T-38A, B-2A

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2008 Distinguished Graduate, B-52 Flight Training
2013 Distinguished Graduate, B-2 Flight Training
2023 Distinguished Graduate, National War College

PUBLICATIONS
“Building Next Generation Global Strike Bomber Readiness and Personnel,” Center for Strategic and International Studies, Project on Nuclear Issues. April 2017.
"Reflections on Battle,” Marine Corps University, June 1, 2019

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Lifetime member, Air Force Association

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 2005
First Lieutenant June 1, 2007
Captain June 1, 2009
Major October 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2018
Colonel July 1, 2024
(Current as of July 2025)