Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Cruz
Lt Col Adrian F. Cruz is the Commander of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 040, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. As Commander, he is responsible for recruiting, educating, and inspiring cadets at LMU and surrounding "cross-town" colleges, and then sourcing the Department of the Air Force with its next generation of high caliber officers.
Lt Col Adrian Cruz commissioned in 2008 through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 607, at Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina. He began his flying career at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, flying the MQ-1B Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, followed by the C-17A at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. He has served in a variety of operational positions at the squadron and group levels. Lt Col Cruz is a senior pilot with more than 3, 900 hours in reconnaissance and heavy airlift aircraft. He has deployed and flown operational missions worldwide, including combat and combat support missions, in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM'S SENTINEL, and INHERENT RESOLVE. Prior to his current position, Lt Col Cruz served as the Director of Maintenance Operations, 60th Maintenance Group, Travis Air Force Base, California.
Education
- 2008 Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Fayetteville State University, N.C.
- 2014 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
- 2016 Master of Criminal Justice, New Mexico State University, N.M.
- 2020 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence.
Assignments
- August 2009 – December 2010, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
- December 2010 – February 2015, MQ-1B Evaluator Pilot, MQ-9A Pilot, Awards and Decorations Officer, Weapons and Tactics Officer, Assistant Flight Commander, 867th Reconnaissance Squadron, Creech AFB, NV.
- June 2015 – August 2018, C-17A Aircraft Commander, Assistant Flight Commander, Flight Commander, Chief of Commander's Inspection Program, 15th Airlift Squadron, JB Charleston, SC.
- August 2018 – July 2021, Chief of Aviation Safety, Deputy Director of Safety, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
- July 2021 – May 2023, C-17A Instructor Aircraft Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, CA.
- May 2023 – June 2025, Director of Maintenance Operations, 60th Maintenance Group, Travis AFB, CA
- June 2025 – Present, Commander, Air Force ROTC Detachment 040, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA.
Flight Information
- Rating: Senior Pilot
- Flight hours: More than 3, 900
- Aircraft flown: T-6, T-1, MQ-1B, MQ-9A, and C-17A
Major Awards and Decorations
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Medal
- Aerial Achievement Medal with sixteen oak leaf clusters
- Air and Space Commendation Medal
- Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
- Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf cluster
- Combat Readiness Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Armed Forces Service Medal
- Humanitarian Service Medal
- Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with 1 "N" Device
- Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
- Air and Space Longevity Service Award with two oak leaf clusters
Effective Dates of Promotion
- Second Lieutenant: 9 May, 2008
- First Lieutenant: 9 May, 2010
- Captain: 9 May, 2012
- Major: 1 June, 2018
- Lieutenant Colonel: 1 August, 2023