Colonel Dean E. Berck
Colonel Dean E. Berck is the Commander, USAFE-AFAFRICA Warfare Center (UAWC), Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany. The Warfare Center is aligned under the Directorate of Operations, Strategic Deterrence, and Nuclear Integration and comprised of seven squadrons, one detachment, and the Warfare Division. The UAWC conducts and supports warfighter readiness and training for service, joint, coalition, and partner nations across the European and African theaters and is the lead in providing realistic live and distributed multi-domain simulation training and exercises, aircrew training, Air/Land integration training, Integrated Air and Missile Defense training and certification, and building U.S. and partner capabilities. Additionally, Col Berck leads headquarters staff support to Air Force Special Warfare, Operational Training Infrastructure, and Weapons and Tactics activities.
Colonel Berck earned his commission through the United States Air Force Academy in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. He is a fighter pilot, an Olmsted Scholar, and an instructor. His operational assignments include tours at Elmendorf AFB and Mountain Home AFB with an instructional tour in the F-15E Formal Training Unit at Seymour Johnson AFB where he instructed and evaluated both U.S. and Singaporean students and instructors. When assigned to the Joint Staff J-5, he worked with inter-agency partners to ensure the CJCS was fully prepared for Latin American, National Guard, and Department of Homeland Security issues. As a CSAF Blue Horizons Fellow, his team designed and developed a prototype offensive cyber operations analytic tool. Prior to joining the UAWC, Col Berck led 450 operations research analysts, scientists, engineers and support staff chartered to deliver model-based systems engineering and in-depth targeting solutions to warfighters. A Command Pilot in the F-15E Strike Eagle, the common threads in Colonel Berck’s career are teaching, mentoring, and leading in diverse and transitioning environments.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO.
2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AK.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AK.
2011 Master of Military Art and Operational Science, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL., by correspondence
2012 Master of Arts, Geography, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2019 Master of Science in Airpower Strategy and Technology Integration, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.
2021 Leadership Decision Making Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.
2022 Machine Learning in Business Program, MIT Sloan School of Management and the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2000 - January 2001, Jumpmaster, 98th Flying Training Squadron, United States Air Force Academy, CO.
2. January 2001 - October 2002, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, TX
3. November 2002 - August 2003, Pilot, F-15E Initial Qualification Training, 333d Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.
4. September 2003 - July 2006, F-15E Pilot/Scheduler/Chief of Mission Planning, 90th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, AK.
5. July 2006 - June 2009, F-15E Evaluator Pilot and Flight Commander, 333d Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.
6. June 2009 - December 2009, Student, Defense Language Institute, Washington Office, Alexandria, VA.
7. January 2010 - January 2012, Olmsted Scholar, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8. January 2012 - April 2014, Politico-Military Planner, Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff, Deputy Directorate for Politico-Military Affairs (Western Hemisphere),
Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Staff, Pentagon, Arlington, VA.
9. April 2014 - April 2015, F-15E Instructor Pilot, Assistant Director of Operations, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, ID.
10. April 2015 - March 2016, Director of Operations, 366th Operations Support Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, ID.
11. March 2016 - June 2017, Commander, 366th Operations Support Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, ID.
12. June 2017 - April 2018, Deputy Commander, 366th Operations Group, Mountain Home AFB, ID.
13. April 2018 - July 2018, Director, 366th Fighter Wing A2/3/5, Mountain Home AFB, ID.
14. July 2018 - June 2019, Fellow, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Blue Horizons Fellowship, Maxwell AFB, AL.
15. June 2019 - December 2019, Director of Special Projects, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, United States Strategic Command, Naval Support Activity Dahlgren, VA.
16. January 2020 - June 2020, Director of Operations (J3), Joint Warfare Analysis Center, United States Strategic Command, Naval Support Activity Dahlgren, VA.
17. June 2020 - February 2022, Vice Director, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, United States Strategic Command, Naval Support Activity Dahlgren, VA.
18. March 2022 - June 2022, Director, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, United States Strategic Command, Naval Support Activity Dahlgren, VA.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2012 - April 2014, Politico-Military Planner, Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff, Deputy Directorate for Politico-Military Affairs (Western Hemisphere), Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Staff, Pentagon, Arlington, VA., as a major.
2. June 2019 - June 2022, Vice Director, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, United States Strategic Command, Naval Support Activity Dahlgren, VA., as a lieutenant colonel and colonel.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 1,800
Aircraft Flown: T-37, A/T-38B, F-15E
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2000
First Lieutenant May, 31, 2002
Captain May 31, 2004
Major Jan. 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 2015
Colonel Dec. 1, 2020
(Current as of July 2022)