Col Donald Bartholomew is the 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 than 18,400 military, 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.
Colonel Bartholomew commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2003. A career Security Forces Officer, he has served as an active parachutist, led aerial nuclear security in UH-1N helicopters, deployed three times in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM conducting convoy security, area security, and detainee movement operations, and deployed in support of Operation SOUTHERN PARTNER where he trained infantry and defense forces in six countries in South America and the Caribbean. Prior to his current position, the colonel was Chief, Mission Assurance Department, Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Arts, Government and Politics, University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Master of Business Administration, University of Phoenix, Ariz.
2017 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command & Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2003 – October 2005, Flight Commander, 99th Security Support Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- October 2005 – October 2006, Flight Commander, 8th Security Forces Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
- October 2006 – November 2008, Flight Commander, 822d Security Forces Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
- November 2008 – June 2009, Officer in Charge, Training and Operations Officer, 820th Security Forces Group, Moody AFB, Ga.
- June 2009 – June 2010, Operations Officer, 824th Security Forces Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
- June 2010 – September 2011, Tactical Response Force Commander, 90th Security Forces Group, F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
- September 2011 – June 2013, Operations Officer, 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron, F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
- June 2013 – May 2015, Commander, 97th Security Forces Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
- June 2015 – June 2016, Air University Fellow, Instructor, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- July 2016 – May 2017, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2017 – May 2019, Commander, 19th Security Forces Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
- June 2019 – June 2021, Commander, Desert Defender Ground Combat Readiness Training Center, Fort Bliss, Texas
- July 2021 – July 2023, Chief, Operations Branch, Joint Security Division, United States Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
- August 2023 – June 2024, Deputy Director, Force Protection, Ninth Air Force, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
- July 2024 – May 2025, Chief, Joint Mission Assurance Assessments Team, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Ft Belvoir, Va.
- June 2025 – June 2026, Chief, Mission Assurance Department, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.
- June 2026 – present, Deputy Commander, Space Base Delta 1, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2021 – July 2023, Chief, Operations Branch, Joint Security Division, United States Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a lieutenant colonel
- July 2024 – present, Chief, Joint Mission Assurance Assessments Team and Chief, Mission Assurance Department, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (five oak leaf clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal (one oak leaf cluster)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2009, U.S. Army Basic Parachutist Badge
2011, U.S. Army Air Assault Badge
2015, Air Force Professional Military Education Instructor’s Badge
2018, Marsjmerket - Norwegian Foot March Badge
2019, German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency (Gold)
2021, Air Force Air Advisor Tab
2021, Security Forces Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course “Patch”
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 22, 2003
First Lieutenant May 28, 2005
Captain May 28, 2007
Major Nov. 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2018
Colonel Dec. 1, 2024
(Current as of June 2026)