Col. Christopher P. Mulder is the Deputy Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. As Deputy Commander, Col. Mulder plays a key role in the plans, support and execution of military operations in support of counter-air, aerial interdiction and close-air support for 7th Air Force. The 8th FW is a primary exercise and rotational force bed-down location for U.S. air component forces, maintaining active flightline operations, war reserve material and munitions at multiple contingency operating bases across the Korean Peninsula.
Col. Mulder graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2001, earning a Bachelor of Science in Management. He instructed in the T-6 as a First Assignment Instructor Pilot and served as a mission commander, evaluator and instructor in the F-16. He is a command pilot with more than 2,800 hours in the F-16 and T-6, including 270 combat hours. Col. Mulder has held various squadron positions at Moody AFB, Osan AB, Shaw AFB and Spangdahlem AB. During his time as the Current Operations Flight Commander, 20th Operational Support Squadron, he was responsible for executing a multi-million dollar flying hour program, managing the Ready Aircrew and SERE programs, and maintainin g Shaw AFB’s F-16 simulator complex. He led missions in both Operation Odyssey Dawn and Operation New Dawn in support of national security objectives as part of the 480th FS. He also served as Aide-de-Camp to the United States Air Forces in Europe-Africa commander. Col Mulder planned and executed 200+ strategic events, traveling to 29 countries in Europe, Africa, and Israel, entailing high-level meetings, academic and think tank round tables, and industry engagements. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Director of Air Force International Programs at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science degree in Management, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2005 Master of Business Administration, Webster University
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, (Correspondence)
2015 Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint Forces Staff College, Virginia (Residence)
2016 Air War College (Correspondence)
2016 China, Middle East, and South Asia Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, DC
2020 Jewish Institute for National Security of America Military Leaders Program
2020 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, DC
2021 Air Force Fellow, Atlantic Council of the United States, Washington, DC
2021 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Scholar, Bush Center, Dallas, TX
2025 Leading Data and AI-Enabled Organizations for Executive Leaders, John Hopkins University
2025 Africa Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, DC
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2001 - July 2002, Casual Officer; later, Student, T-6 undergraduate pilot training, Moody Air Force Base, GA.
2. July 2002 - January 2003, Student, T-38 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, MS.
3. February 2003 - April 2006, T-6 Instructor pilot; later, Check Flight; later, Assistant Training Flight Commander, 3rd Flying Training Squadron, Moody AFB, GA.
4. April 2006 - August 2006, Student, T-38 Introduction Fighter Fundamentals, 435th Flying Training Squadron, Moody AFB, GA.
5. August 2006 – May 2007, Student, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, 182nd Flying Training Squadron, Kelly AFB, TX.
6. June 2007 - June 2008, Assistant Standardization and Evaluation Chief, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea.
7. June 2008 – March 2011, Chief of Training; later, Current Operations Flight Commander; later, Assistant Director of Operations, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, SC.
8. March 2011 - December 2011, Assistant Director of Operations, 480th Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany.
9. December 2011 – July 2012, Chief, F-16 Standardization and Evaluation, 52d Operations Group, Spangdahlem AB, Germany.
10. July 2012 – July 2013, Wing Executive Officer, 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany.
11. July 2013 – June 2015, Aide-De-Camp to the Commander, United States Air Forces in Europe and Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany.
12. July 2015 – April 2016, Chief, Air and Space Branch, Joint Requirements Assessment Division, Joint Staff J-8, The Pentagon, Washington D.C.
13. April 2016 – June 2017, Executive Assistant, Deputy Director for Requirements, Joint Staff J-8, The Pentagon, Washington D.C.
14. July 2017 – February 2018, Instructor Pilot, T-6, Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, Air Education and Training Command, Sheppard AFB, Texas.
15. March 2018 – July 2018, Director of Operations, 459th Flying Training Squadron, Air Education and Training Command, Sheppard AFB, Texas.
16. July 2018 – May 2020, Commander, 80th Operations Support Squadron, Air Education and Training Command, Sheppard AFB, Texas.
17. May 2020 – June 2020, Deputy Commander, 80th Operations Group, Air Education and Training Command, Sheppard AFB, Texas.
18. July 2020 – June 2021, Air Force Fellow, Atlantic Council, Washington, DC.
19. June 2021 – June 2022, Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness, Office of the Secretary of Defense, The Pentagon, Washington DC.
20. July 2022 – May 2025, Director, Air Force International Programs, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, The Pentagon, Washington D.C.
21. June 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, South Korea
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,800, including 270 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-16, T-38, T-6
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Iraq Campaign Medal
Non-Article 5 NATO medal
(Current as of June 2025)