Col. Fernando Ruiz is the Acting Deputy Commander, Space Base Delta 1, headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. In this role, he guides a 3,700-member team providing Base Operating Support to more that 18,400 military, Department of Defense civilians and contractors serving at 23 operating locations worldwide. These personnel execute critical US Space Force missions including offensive and defensive space operations; missile warning; space domain awareness; positioning, navigation, and timing; satellite communications; electronic warfare; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and cyberspace operations. He also guides installation support for the headquarters of North American Aerospace Defense Command, US Northern Command, US Space Command and 50 additional mission partners.
Col. Ruiz enlisted in the Air Force in 1997 and received a regular commission in 2002 as a distinguished graduate of Officer Training School. In 2007, he voluntarily transitioned from the Regular Air Force to the Air Force Reserve.
Col. Ruiz is a Master Cyberspace Operator with command and control, communications and information, staff officer, and cyberspace operations experience from the squadron through the Combatant Command level, to include a deployment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Throughout his career, he has also been successful in establishing, promoting and executing Total Force Integration initiatives.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Computer Information Systems Management, Colorado Christian University, Colorado Springs, Co.
2003 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Squadron Officer School by correspondence
2009 Air Force Process Management Green Belt Certification, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2011 Master of Business Administration and Management, Trident University, Cypress, Cal.
2011 Junior Officer Leadership Development Course, Scott AFB, Ill.
2013 Air Command and Staff College by correspondence
2015 Air Force Cyberspace 300 Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, Oh.
2018 Air War College by correspondence
2025 Space Executive Course, Peterson SFB, Co.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 1997 – April 1998, Basic Military Training and Enlisted Technical Training, Lackland AFB and Sheppard AFB, Tex.
2. April 1998 – August 2002, Dental Technician, Offutt AFB, Neb., and USAF Academy, Colo.
3. August 2002 – November 2002, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
4. November 2002 – September 2004, Unit Deployment Branch Chief, Assistant Operations Officer, and
Network Training & Certification Branch Chief, 355th Communications Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Az.
5. September 2004 – July 2006, Executive Officer, 355th Mission Support Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Az.
(August 2005 – January 2006, Executive Officer, 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
6. July 2006 – September 2007, Information Systems Flight Commander, 99th Communications Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. September 2007 – May 2008, Individual Ready Reserve, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley AFB, Colo.
8. May 2008 – June 2010, Process Manager, 926th Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. June 2010 – April 2011, Influence Operations Flight Commander and Weapons and Tactics Flight
Commander, 57th Information Aggressor Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. April 2011 – December 2012, Chief, Cyberspace Operations, 926th Group and Assistant Director of
Operations, 706th Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
11. December 2012 – December 2013, Director of Operations, 960th Network Operations Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
12. January 2014 – September 2018, Chief of Cyberspace Operations Integration and Deputy Reserve
Advisor, Directorate of Operations and Communications, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
13. September 2018 – November 2020, Commander, 53rd Network Operations Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
14. November 2020 – April 2021, Inspector General, 310th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo.
15. April 2021 – July 2022, Director of Staff, 310th Space Wing, Schriever Space Force Base, Colo.
16. July 2022 – August 2023, Battle Watch Commander, Joint Operations Center, United States Space
Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.
17. August 2023 – June 2024, Liaison Officer and Director, Cyber Operations-Integrated Planning Element to United States Space
Command, Sixteenth Air Force-Operating Location Space, Peterson SFB, Colo.
18. July 2024 – April 2025, Director, Current Operations, Headquarters Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.
19. May – Aug 2025, Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations, Plans, Training and Force Development, Headquarters Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.
20. Aug – Dec 2025, Assistant Deputy Commander, Headquarters Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.
21. Dec 2025 – Present, Acting Deputy Commander, Space Base Delta 1, Peterson SFB, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2022 – August 2023, Battle Watch Commander, Joint Operations Center, United States Space Command,
Peterson SFB, Co., as a colonel
2. Aug 2023 – June 2024, Liaison Officer and Director, Cyber Ops-Integrated Planning Element to United States Space Command,
Sixteenth Air Force-Operating Location Space, Peterson SFB, Co., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Distinguished Graduate, Officer Training School
2003 Academic Ace, Air and Space Basic Course
2003 Distinguished Graduate, Basic Communications Officer Training
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 8, 2002
First Lieutenant November 8, 2004
Captain November 8, 2006
Major March 14, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel August 24, 2017
Colonel July 19, 2022
(Current as of December 2025)