Maj. Dan Dickinson is the United States Air Force F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team Commander and Pilot based at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. As the F-22 Aerial Demonstration Commander, he is responsible for representing Air Combat Command, the United States Air Force, Department of Defense, and the United States of America at more than 20 air shows annually. He leads the 19-member F-22 Demonstration Team, oversees maintenance actions performed on the Lockheed Martin $140 million demo aircraft, and showcases the Raptor's exceptional maneuverability for more than 10 million spectators around the world each year. He is an operational F-22 instructor pilot assigned to the 1st Operations Group, Langley AFB, Virginia.
Maj Dickinson was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He attended Sumter High School in Sumter, South Carolina, graduating in 2001. Following high school, Maj Dickinson joined the Clemson Reserve Officer Training Corps at Clemson University graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Finance and earning an Air Force commission in 2005.
Maj Dickinson was assigned to Moody AFB, Georgia for joint pilot training where he flew the T-6 Texan II. He then completed specialized pilot training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi flying the T-38C Talon earning his wings as the Distinguished Graduate and AETC Commander's Trophy recipient. Maj Dickinson then attended Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals training at Randolph AFB, Texas in route to the F-16C Raptor Lead-in Couse at Luke AFB, Arizona. He then was a part of the Air Force's first F-22 Basic course in the 43rd Fighter Squadron at Tyndall AFB, FL where he graduated as the Distinguished Graduate. Upon graduation, he was then assigned to the 94 FS at Langley AFB, VA for four years as an operational F-22 pilot where he upgraded to instructor pilot and served in the weapons shop.
In 2012, Maj Dickinson was assigned back to the 43rd Fighter Squadron at Tyndall AFB as a Formal Training Unit Instructor pilot. He served as the 325 OSS AFE Flight Commander and later as a 43 FS Flight Commander before being selected to be the Air Combat Command F-22 Demonstration Pilot. He is a seasoned fighter pilot with over 800 F-22 hours.
EDUCATION
2001 Sumter High School, South Carolina
2005 Bachelor of Science Corporate Finance, Clemson University
2005 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2010 Flight Safety Officer Course, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2012 Masters of Business Administration, Trident University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2005 - December 2006, Student, Joint Undergraduate Pilot Training 3 FTS Moody AFB, GA
2. January 2007 - August 2007, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training 50 FTS Columbus AFB, MS
3. September 2007 - December 2007, Student, Introductory to Fighter Fundamentals 435 FTS Randolph AFB, TX
4. January 2008 - February 2008, Student, Raptor Lead-In 63 FS Luke AFB, AR
5. March 2008 - October 2008, Student, F-22 Basic Course 43 FS Tyndall AFB, FL
6. November 2008 - July 2012, Electronic Combat Pilot/F-22 MSN CC/F-22 IP 94 FS Langley AFB, VA
7. August 2012 - July 2015, Flight Commander/F-22 FTU IP, 43 FS Tyndall AFB, FL
8. August 2015 - November 2015, F-22 Demo Team Assistant/F-22 IP 1 OG Langley AFB, VA
9. December 2015 - present, F-22 Demo Team Commander/F-22 IP 1 OG Langley AFB, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal
AF Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
AF Longevity Service
AF Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 2005
First Lieutenant June 1, 2007
Captain June 1, 2009
Major December 1, 2015
(Current as of January 2016)