Lt. Col. Charles D. Comfort is the Deputy Commander of the USAFE-AFAFRICA Warfare Center, Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany. The Warfare Center conducts and supports warfighter readiness and training for service, joint, coalition, and partner nations across the European and African theaters. The Warfare Center is the leader in providing realistic live and distributed multi-domain simulation training and exercises, combat aircrew and Air/Land integration training, and building U.S. and partner capabilities.
The oldest of four brothers, Lt Col Comfort is from Morris, IL, and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 2004. A three-time graduated Squadron Commander, he has honorably served as an Air Force Civil Engineer officer overseas in Japan, Korea, and Germany. His combat deployments include Kuwait and Iraq, the Republic of the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, and Afghanistan. In addition, Lt Col Comfort was selected for a two-year Navy Seabee officer exchange with U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40, and also instructed Civil and Environmental Engineering at the US Air Force Academy. He is a Defense Acquisitions Workforce member and has a Professional Engineer license from the State of Colorado.
Prior to assuming his current position, Lt. Col. Comfort was the Deputy Director of the Artificial Intelligence Division for the Department of the Air Force.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, CO
2010 Master of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Colorado in Boulder, CO
2016 Master of Business Administration, Columbia Southern University, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2004-August 2005, Chief, Construction Inspection, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan
2. August 2005-August 2006, Chief, Plans and Programs, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
3. August 2006-August 2007, Airfield Project Manager, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron, Osan AB, Korea
4. August 2007-March 2008, Assistant Operations Officer, NMCB 40, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
5. March 2008-January 2009, Charlie Company Commander, NMCB 40, Port Hueneme, Calif.
6. January 2009-August 2009, Detachment Officer-In-Charge, NMCB 40, Republic of the Philippines
7. August 2009-December 2010, Graduate Student in Civil Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo.
8. December 2010-May 2013, Instructor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
9. May 2013-June 2014, Deputy Base Civil Engineer, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
10. June 2014-July 2016, Deputy Chief, Nuclear Surety, Inspector General, U.S. Air Forces Europe
11. July 2015-October 2016, Chief of Strategic Plans, A4C, U.S. Air Forces Europe - Air Forces Africa
12. October 2016-May 2017, Chief of NATO Air Infrastructure, CJENG, HQ Resolute Support, Kabul, Afghanistan
13. June 2017- September 2019, Commander, 799th Air Base Sq and 432nd Support Sq, Creech AFB, Las Vegas, Nev.
14. Oct 2019 – April 2021, Commander, Asst USPFO, 156th Civil Engineer Squadron, Puerto Rico
15. May 2021 – July 2022, Commander, Asst USPFO, 182d Civil Engineer Squadron, Peoria, IL
16. Jul 2022 – Sept 2023, Deputy Director, Artificial Intelligence Division, SAF Chief Data and AI Office, Pentagon, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
NATO Medal