Elevate is happy to partner with the Black Hills Forum & Press Club to continue this luncheon series. We hope you will join us as we have the opportunity to hear from Col. Oakley the new commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. 

Please register no later than Tuesday, November 14. You may register and pay in advance online, or email mherrmann@security1stbank.com to let us know you are coming and will pay at the door with cash or check.

About the Speaker Col. Derek Oakley:

Col. Derek Oakley is commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, the largest B-1 combat wing in the United States Air Force, with more than 12,000 active-duty military, civilian employees, and family members. He provides combat-ready aircraft, crews and associated combat support for global engagement taskings.

Col. Oakley received his commission from the United States Air Force Officer Training School in May 2000. He graduated from pilot training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, and was operationally assigned to the B-1B.

He has served in a variety of flying squadrons as an instructor and evaluator pilot in the B-1B, T-6, and T-38. He commanded a T-6 squadron at Columbus AFB and served on the Joint Staff as the Director of the Joint Targeting School, Dam Neck Naval Air Station, Virginia.

He served as the director of the B-21 Integration and System Management Office where he liaised between Air Force Global Strike Command and the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, supporting development of the B-21 Raider, the Air Force’s Top 3 priority acquisition program.

Prior to his current assignment, Col. Oakley commanded the 28th Operations Group at Ellsworth, the largest operational B-1B group in the U.S. Air Force with one operations support squadron, two bomb squadrons and management of the Powder River Training Complex.

Col. Oakley is a command pilot with over 3,400 flight hours in the B-1B, T-38, T-6, and T-37, including 991 combat hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.