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U.S. Air Force Col. Damian Holtzclaw is recognized during his retirement ceremony at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, July 10, 2026, marking the conclusion of a distinguished career dedicated to developing Airmen, strengthening professional military education, and advancing the Air Force mission. Holtzclaw served as commandant of the Air Force Global College from Sept. 5, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2026, where he led and expanded three major education enterprises: online professional military education, the Civilian Leader Development School, and the Community College of the Air Force. During his tenure, Holtzclaw shaped the intellectual readiness of more than 450,000 joint service members and civilians while driving innovation across the force’s education landscape. He pioneered the Air Force’s first joint-accredited hybrid professional military education modality, accelerating the readiness of 474 operational leaders across multiple major commands, including Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Air Combat Command, and the Air National Guard. Holtzclaw also executed a comprehensive unit redesign that aligned functions and optimized a combined portfolio valued at $27 million, while leading the integration of artificial intelligence into distance education through policy, governance, and curriculum development. His efforts advanced human-machine teaming concepts and modernized professional military education by transitioning from passive legacy assignments to operationally focused products such as bullet background papers, risk assessments, and five-paragraph orders designed to better prepare leaders for command and combat. As part of a major Air University reorganization, Holtzclaw built the Air Force Global College enterprise from the ground up, integrating the Community College of the Air Force, Civilian Leadership Development School, and online professional military education under one banner. Bringing the perspective of a seasoned warfighter to the classroom, he accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours, including 600 combat hours in C-130 aircraft. Following his culminating command tour, Holtzclaw transitions from active-duty service to a commercial aviation career with Delta Air Lines. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tanner Doerr)
| Date Taken: | 07.10.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 07.16.2026 16:46 |
| Photo ID: | 9814879 |
| VIRIN: | 260710-F-WU407-1207 |
| Resolution: | 1829x1413 |
| Size: | 732.9 KB |
| Location: | MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 4 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Col. Damian Holtzclaw concludes career of leadership and innovation [Image 10 of 10], by SrA Tanner Doerr, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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