Colonel Paul T. Davidson is the Commander of the 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base, Japan. He commands a combat-ready F-16CM fighter wing composed of 3,000 personnel and sustains forces and facilities worth over two billion dollars. Colonel Davidson oversees an 11,000-person installation which supports eight associate units representing four U.S. military services (Air Force, Navy, Army and Space Force) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Colonel Davidson received his commission and Bachelors of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2001. Upon his commission, he completed Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He is a command pilot with 2,000 flying hours in the F-16, including 250 combat hours over Iraq. He has served as an instructor pilot and standardization and evaluation flight examiner in the F-16. Colonel Davidson served as a MiG-1 and the Director of Operations for the 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev. He then commanded the 8th Operations Support Squadron at Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea.
Colonel Davidson is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College. Prior to his current position, Colonel Davidson was the 51st Fighter Wing Deputy Commander at Osan AB, Republic of Korea.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Master of International Relations, Troy University, by correspondence
2011 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2012 Master of Air and Space Studies, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Service Chief Fellow, DARPA
2020 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C.
2020 National Leadership Preparedness Initiative, Cohort XVIIII, Harvard University, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1.January 2002 – February 2003, Student, EURO-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2.June 2003 – March 2004, Student, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, 308th FS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3.April 2004 – May 2006, SELO and Chief of Training, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan
4.May 2006 – May 2007, Wing Electronic Combat Pilot, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
5.May 2007 – June 2008, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
6.June 2008 – June 2009, Chief F-16 Wing Weapons and Tactics, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
7.June 2009 – May 2011, Flight Commander and Assistant Director of Operations, 55th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
8.May 2011 – February 2012, Aide de Camp to the CC, 9th Air Force, Shaw AFB, S.C.
9. July 2012 – June 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. July 2013 – June 2015, Chief of AESA/Int’l F-16, SAF/IA, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. July 2015 – May 2017, Chief of Safety, 57th Wing, and Director of Ops, 64th AGRS, Nellis AFB, Nev.
12. June 2017 – June 2018, Commander, 8th OSS, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
13. July 2018 – July 2019, Chief of F-35 Fighter Branch, SAF/IA, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2019 – June 2020, Student, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C.
15. July 2020 – April 2021, J521 Branch Chief, NORAD/USNORTHCOM
16. April 2021 – May 2022, Executive Officer/Special Advisor to the NORAD Deputy Commander
17. June 2022 – June 2024, Deputy Commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
18. July 2024 – Present, Commander, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: 2,300
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2020 – April 2021, Strategy Branch Chief, NORAD and USNORTHCOM, as a lieutenant colonel
2. April 2021 – May 2022, Executive Officer/Special Advisor to the Deputy Commander, NORAD, as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2001
First Lieutenant May 31, 2003
Captain May 31, 2005
Major Feb. 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 2016
Colonel Sept. 1, 2021
(Current as of July 2024)