Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo L. Flores is the Commander for the 362nd Recruiting Squadron, 372nd Recruiting Group, Moreno Valley, Calif. As commander, Lt. Col. Flores leads the recruiting activities of eight enlisted accession flights, covering more than 160,000 square miles, with approximately 102 active-duty and civilian personnel. The squadron’s mission is to inspire, engage, and recruit the next generation of Airmen and Guardians.
Lt. Col. Flores enlisted in the Air Force in 2000 as an Aircraft Structural Maintainer. After completing the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, he received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2007. Lt. Col. Flores served in a series of operational and strategic intelligence leadership positions supporting joint, coalition, and interagency operations. He served as Deputy Director of Intelligence for Ninth Air Force (AFCENT) and Twelfth Air Force (AFSOUTH), and as Deputy Chief of the ISR Division at an Air Operations Center. He has directed intelligence support to multiple contingencies, including Operations ABSOLUTE RESOLVE, SOUTHERN SPEAR, and INHERENT RESOLVE. As a former aircrew member, he is a Senior Navigator who has instructed at the USAF’s Undergraduate Combat Systems Officer Formal Training Unit and has flown missions in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
2002 Associate of Aviation Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2003 U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colorado Springs, CO
2007 Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
2013 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2013 Master of Business Administration, Trident University International, Cypress, CA, by correspondence
2017 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2025 Master of Strategic Studies, (JPME II) Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2007 – July 2009, Undergraduate Navigator Training, 562nd Flying Training Squadron,
Randolph AFB, TX
2. August 2009 - August 2010, Student Navigator, 338th Combat Training Squadron, Offutt AFB, NE
3. August 2010 - March 2014, Navigator, 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, RC-135, Offutt AFB, NE
4. March 2014 – August 2018, Instructor Combat Systems Officer, T-1A, 451st Flying Training Squadron,
NAS Pensacola, FL
(March 2015 - November 2016, Air Operations Officer-Joint Air Component Coordination Element, Combined Joint Operations Center-Jordan, King Abdullah Special Operations Training Center, Amman, Jordan)
5. August 2018 – March 2019 Student, Intelligence Officer Course, 315th Training Squadron,
Goodfellow AFB, TX
6. May 2019- December 2019 - Chief, Analysis, Correlation & Fusion Cell, 612th Air Operations Center,
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
7. January 2020- Aug 2022 - Deputy Chief, ISR Division, 612th Air Operations Center,
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
(October 2021 – March 2022, Senior Collection Manager, US EMBASSY Bogota, Colombia)
8. August 2022 – August 2023 – Deputy Director of Intelligence, 9AF (AFCENT), Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
9. September 2023 – May 2026 – Deputy Director of Intelligence, 12AF (AFSOUTH),
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
10. June 2026 – Present, Commander, 362nd Recruiting Squadron, Air Force Recruiting Services,
Moreno Valley, Calif.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Navigator
Flight hours: 1,055
Combat Hours: 317
Aircraft flown: T-43, C-130E, RC-135V/W and T-1A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
(Current as of June 2026)