Colonel Daniel L. Magruder Jr., Ph.D, is the Vice Commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing. He is responsible to the 1st SOW Commander for preparing Air Force special operations forces for missions worldwide in support of joint and international partners. The wing's mission includes planning, posturing, and executing strike, mobility, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The wing employs more than 80 aircraft, including the AC-130J, MC-130H, MC-130J, CV-22B, U-28A, PC-12, and MQ-9. Col. Magruder also assists Hurlburt Field’s base support for the wing’s four groups and 25 squadrons, as well as over 40 tenant units, including Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command.
Col. Magruder received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 2003. As a Special Tactics Officer, he has led special operations forces during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, WILLING SPIRIT, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and INHERENT RESOLVE. During his most recent deployment, he commanded U.S. special operations and Vetted Syrian Opposition forces in northwestern and southern (Al Tanf Garrison) Syria. Prior to assuming his current assignment, Col. Magruder was the Division Chief, Strategic Plans, Air Force Special Operations Command.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science in Military Strategic Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2015 Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts in Political Science, University of
Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jul 2003 – Nov 2005, Special Tactics Training Pipeline, multiple locations
2. Dec 2005 – Mar 2008, Flight Commander, 23d Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
3. Apr 2008 – May 2009, Chief, Weapons and Tactics, 720th Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. Jun 2009 – Jun 2012, Current Operations, Special Plans, then Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, Special Operations Command Central, Tampa, Fla.
5. Jul 2012 – Jun 2015, Chief of Staff of the Air Force PhD Program, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
6. Jul 2015 – Jun 2018, Director of Operations, then Commander, 22d Special Tactics Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
7. Jul 2018 – Jun 2020, Speechwriter to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Arlington, Va.
8. Jul 2020 – Jun 2021, Fellow, Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.
9. Jul 2021 – Apr 2022, Division Chief, Strategic Plans, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jun 2009 – Jun 2012, Current Operations, Special Plans, then Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, Special Operations Command Central, Tampa, Fla.
2. Sep 2017 – Apr 2018, Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Syria, then Commander, Special Operations Command and Control Element, North West and Southern Syria, Special Operations Joint Task Force, Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (two oak leaf clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster)
Air Force Commendation Medal (two oak leaf clusters)
Joint Service Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 National Defense University, WMD Center Program for Emerging Leaders, Class 04
2014 Columbia University, Summer Workshop on Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy
2019 John’s Hopkins, School of Advanced International Studies, National Security Scholars and Practitioners Program
PUBLICATIONS
Book
"Counterinsurgency, Security Forces, and the Identification Problem: Distinguishing Friend from Foe", Routledge, London, 2017
Monograph
"America’s Strategic Baggage in the Middle East: Is it Necessary and Sustainable?", Walker Paper Series, Air University,Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, August 2021
Book Chapter
“The Missing Art: Hybrid Warfare, U.S. Special Operations Forces, and the Indirect Approach," in Hybrid Warfare: TransnationalThreats and Policy Choices for an Era of Persistent Conflict, Council for Emerging National Security Affairs (CENSA), August2011
Selected Professional Journals, Research Articles, Op-eds
“My Best Friend Died by Suicide. I Wish I Had Seen the Warning Signs”, New York Times, At War (on-line), Sep 2019,https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/magazine/air-force-suicide-prevention.html
“Al Tanf garrison: America’s strategic baggage in the Middle East,” Order from Chaos (blog), Brookings Institution, Nov 2020
with Rod McHaty, “Reframing U.S. Syria policy: The road to Damascus runs through Moscow,” Research report, Brookings Institution, Dec 2020
with Tim Greenhaw, Rod McHaty, and Mike Sinclair “U.S. Options to Enhance Arctic Defense,” Research report, Brookings Institution, May 2021
"Developing Air Force Field Grade Officers for Joint Leadership,” Air and Space Power Journal, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air University Press; Spring 2018
"The U.S. Air Force and Irregular Warfare: Success as a Hurdle," Small Wars Journal, Jul 2009
Various book reviews appearing in Air and Space Power Journal, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air University Press
(Current as of May 2022)