Lt. Col. Tim Candelaria is the Squadron Commander for the 352nd Recruiting Squadron, Fort Worth, Texas. He is responsible for 120 recruiters operating at 50 geographically separated unit locations across 19 states. He collaborates with 37 Wing Commanders and provides qualified diverse accessions to meet manpower mission requirements. He develops and executes policies for recruiters in the field to achieve accession goals. Additionally, he directs a 10-person support staff to address mission manpower, facility, budget, and training requirements.
Lt. Col. Candelaria entered the Air Force in 1999 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. His first duty station was the 490th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. While there, Lt. Col. Candelaria also served in the 341st Operations Group as an evaluator and script writer. Following the 341st Missile Wing, he was assigned to the 392nd Training Squadron, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, as an instructor and Chief Evaluator for Undergraduate Space and Missile Training. Following eight years as an Individual Ready Reservist, Lt. Col. Candelaria returned to the Air Force as a flight commander for the 380th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Peterson SFB, Colorado. Lt. Col. Candelaria has deployed to Al Udeid AB, Qatar as the Commander for Operation Silent Sentry and Commander for the 16th Expeditionary Electromagnetic Warfare Flight-Alpha, Okinawa, Japan. Following his deployment to Qatar, Lt. Col. Candelaria served for 10 months at the Missile Warning Center, Cheyenne Mountain SFS, Colorado; as a Deputy Crew Commander. Lt. Col. Candelaria also served as the Assistant Director of Operations for the 380th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron; AFRC’s largest deployable Space unit. Lt. Col. Candelaria’s last assignment was serving as Chief, Nuclear Integration, AFRC HQ A3/10ON, Robins AFB, Georgia.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Social Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2006 Master of Business Administration, Conflict and Negotiation, Touro University, New York, N.Y.
2020 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- December 1999 - August 2000, Student, Undergraduate Space and Missile Training, 392nd Training Squadron, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif.
- August 2000 – January 2003, Missile Combat Crew Commander, 490th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.
- January 2003 – June 2004, Evaluator, 341st Operations Group, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
- June 2004 – March 2007, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Instructor, 392nd Training Squadron, Vandenberg SFB, Calif.
- June 2015 – January 2016, Flight Commander-Training, 380th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Peterson SFB, Colo.
- January 2016 – July 2016, Deployment Commander, Operation Silent Sentry, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
- July 2016 – January 2017, Flight Commander-Evaluations, 380th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Peterson SFB, Colo.
- January 2017 – October 2017, Deputy Crew Commander, Missile Warning Center, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, Colo.
- October 2017 – March 2019, Flight Commander-Operations, 380th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Peterson SFB, Colo.
- March 2019 – September 2019, Deployment Commander, 16th Expeditionary Electromagnetic Warfare Flight – Alpha, Okinawa, Japan
- September 2019 – January 2022, Assistant Director of Operations, 380th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Peterson SFB, Colo.
- January 2022 – March 2023, Chief, Nuclear Integration, Headquarters AFRC A3/10ON, Robins AFB, Ga.
- March 2023 - Present, Commander, 352nd Recruiting Squadron, Fort Worth, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with seven oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with “N” device
Armed Force Reserve Medal with “M” device
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 Magna Cum Laude, Touro University (MBA)
2019 710th Operations Group Field Grade Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant December 21, 1999
First Lieutenant December 21, 2001
Captain December 21, 2003
Major May 5, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2021
(CURRENT AS OF FEBRUARY 2023)