Lt. Col. Daniel P. Gipper is currently a Faculty Development Scholar for the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS). He has completed his PhD in Military History at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX.
Lt. Col. Gipper entered the Air Force in 2006 as a distinguished graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Michigan State University in 2006. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training as a distinguished graduate in the U.S. Navy’s Joint Advanced Multi-Engine Flight Training program and served in two overseas assignments. He has deployed six times and flown combat missions in operations Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Resolute Support. His final deployment was as an Expeditionary Squadron Commander, leading forty-six airmen as they safely executed 355 combat flight hours. He served as the Command Weapons Officer at Headquarters, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) at Hurlburt Field, FL. In this role, he oversaw the command’s Tactics Development program, which ensured the development, instruction, and dissemination of tactics, techniques, and procedures for AFSOC’s 248 aircraft and 19,000 airmen.
Lt Col Gipper has been selected for Command of the 347th Recruiting Squadron (347 RCS) headquartered in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The 347 RCS conducts recruiting activities through nine enlisted accession flights with approximately 113 active-duty enlisted, officer, and civilian personnel. Its area of responsibility covers an 89,000-square-mile area that includes Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
2012 Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus
2013 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2016 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2017 U.S. Air Force Weapons School (Distinguished Graduate), Hurlburt Field, FL
2020 Master of Science Degree in Defense Analysis (Irregular Warfare), Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
2022 Master of Philosophy Degree in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL
2025 Doctorate of Philosophy, History, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 2006 – March 2007, Squadron Adjutant, 88th Operations Support Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH
2. March 2007 – September 2007, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX
3. October 2007 – May 2008, Student, Joint Advanced Multi-Engine Flight Training, NAS Corpus Christi, TX
4. July 2008 – February 2009, C-130 Student, 714th Training Squadron, Little Rock AFB, AL
5. February 2009 – September 2009, MC-130P Student, 58th Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM
6. October 2009 – October 2012, MC-130P Aircraft Commander and Deputy Flight Commander, 17th Special Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
7. October 2012 – October 2014, MC-130J Aircraft Commander and Training Flight Commander, 67th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK
8. October 2014 – December 2016, MC-130J Evaluator Pilot and Assistant Director of Operations, 27th Special Operations Support Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
9. January 2017 – June 2017, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Hurlburt Field, FL
10. June 2017 – December 2018, Chief, Group Standardization and Evaluation, 27th Special Operations Group, Cannon AFB, NM
11. December 2018 – June 2020, Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
12. June 2020 – June 2021, Command Weapons Officer, MAJCOM Weapons and Tactics, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, FL
13. July 2021 – August 2022, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAAS), Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
14. August 2022 – Present, Student SAASS Faculty Development Scholar, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior pilot
Flight hours: 2,932
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-44, C-130E, MC-130P, C-130J, MC-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
AF Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Humanitarian Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2006
First Lieutenant May 31, 2008
Captain May 31, 2010
Major August 01, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel December 14, 2020