Col. Anne "Theags" Ridlon is Commander, 513th Air Control Group, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The 513th is the only Air Force Reserve unit that maintains and operates the E-3 Sentry, an Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. The colonel is responsible for directing and maintaining the wartime readiness of the nearly 400 reservists under her command.
Col. Ridlon is a 1999 graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science. She graduated from Officer Training School in December of 2003, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Training in 2005, then earned her wings in April of 2006 at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Col Ridlon served for twelve years on active duty and has been a Reservist for the last eight years. On active duty, she served at Kadena Air Base, Japan in the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron then as Chief of Wing Command and Control Plans, as well as Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for the 18th Wing. Next, at Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson, she served as the Deputy Chief of Current Operations, Assistant Flight Commander, and Operations Group Executive Officer as well as Assistant Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. Col Ridlon graduated from USAF Weapons Instructor Course in June of 2011, then served at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea as Chief of Weapons and Tactics for the 621st Air Control Squadron. During this time, she participated in the mobile training team supporting Republic of Korea Air Force’s E-7 Peace Eye acquisition, flying with Korean Command and Control aviators several times on the E-7 and teaching them airborne control tactics, techniques, and procedures. She returned to Kadena for her last active-duty assignment as Wing Chief of Command and Control Weapons and Tactics, then Assistant Director of Operations for the 18th Operations Support Squadron.
Col Ridlon joined the Reserve Component in 2015 as the Chief of Wing Weapons and Tactics for the 513th Air Control Group at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma and later Assistant Director of Operations for the 513th Operations Support Squadron prior to taking command. While at this assignment, she deployed in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, flying more than 150 combat hours. During this time she also augmented Pacific Air Forces as Deputy Exercise Director for Joint Exercises VALIANT SHIELD and NORTHERN EDGE and Deputy Contingency Plans Lead for Exercise NEPTUNE HAWK. She moved to the National Capital Region in January of 2022 as the Chief of Programs for Command and Control and Globally Integrated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. Prior to her current assignment, the colonel was the Deputy Chief of Plans, Programs and Requirements Division on the Air Staff for the Air Force Reserve, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Behavioral Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison
2003 USAF Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2004 Aerospace Basic Course, Residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2012 Master of Arts, Military History, American Military University, Non-residence
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Non-residence
2023 Air War College, Non-residence
2024 Reserve Components National Security Course, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2004 – May 2006, Student, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager training, 325th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall Air Force
Base (AFB), Fla.
2. May 2006 – July 2008, E-3 Air Weapons Officer, Assistant Chief of Plans, Officer in Charge of Awards and Decorations, and
Chief of Command and Control Plans, 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron and 18th Operations Support Squadron, Kadena
Air Base (AB), Japan
3. July 2008 – July 2011, E-3 Instructor and Evaluator Air Weapons Officer and Senior Director, Deputy Chief of Current
Operations, Assistant Flight Commander and Operations Group Executive Officer, 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron and
3rd Operations Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
4. July 2011 – July 2013, Master Control and Reporting Center Instructor Senior Director and Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 621st
Air Control Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
5. July 2013 – September 2015, E-3 Evaluator Senior Director, Chief of Command and Control Weapons and Tactics, and Assistant
Director of Operations, Kadena AB, Japan
6. September 2015 – October 2019, E-3 Mission Crew Commander and Instructor Senior Director, Chief of Wing Tactics, and
Assistant Director of Operations, 970th Airborne Air Control Squadron and 513th Operations Support Squadron, Tinker AFB,
Okla.
7. October 2019 – February 2022, E-3 Mission Crew Commander (MCC) and Commander, 513th Operations Support Squadron,
Tinker AFB, Okla. (April – August 2021, 968th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates)
8. March 2022 – May 2023, Chief of Command and Control, Globally Integrated Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance
Programming, Headquarters Air Force, Office of Reserve Plans, Programs and Requirements (REXP), Pentagon, Washington,
D.C.
9. June 2023 – July 2024, Deputy Chief, Plans, Programs and Requirements Division, Headquarters Air Force, REXP, Pentagon,
Washington, D.C.
10. July 2024 – Present, Commander, 513th Air Control Group, Tinker AFB, Okla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Air Battle Manager
Flight Hours: More than 2,000, including 159.3 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: E-3 B/C/G
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Korean Defense Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 Pacific Air Forces Air Battle Manager of the Year Award
2012 Pacific Air Forces Crew of the Year Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, Dec. 19, 2003
First Lieutenant, Dec. 19, 2005
Captain, Dec. 19, 2007
Major, Dec. 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel, Aug. 19, 2019
Colonel, Jul. 9, 2024
(Current as of August 2024)