Colonel CHARLES L. CARTER
Colonel Charles L. Carter is Commander, 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, headquartered at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. America’s Cryptologic Wing conducts signals intelligence and cybersecurity operations to inform national and allied leaders, combatant commanders, and air component commanders, and enable air, space and cyberspace operations. The Wing also provides installation support services to over 10,000 Airmen and dependents assigned to Fort Meade. Colonel Carter commands 6,200 Total Force Airmen across six groups, 22 squadrons, and two detachments at 28 locations worldwide.
Colonel Carter has commanded at the group and squadron levels and served in a variety of operational assignments at the Air Operations Center, Major Command, combat support agency, and Headquarters Air Force levels. Additionally, he has extensive experience in joint, interagency and multinational operations and has completed five contingency deployments supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as overseas assignments in Germany, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom. In his last assignment, Colonel Carter served in a dual-hatted role as the Commander of the 543d Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group and the Deputy Director of Operations at National Security Agency – Texas.
Colonel Carter received his commission as an Intelligence Officer through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Louisiana State University in 2000. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Weapons School, Air Command and Staff College, Joint Information Operations Planners Course, Joint Advanced Cyber Warfare Course, Air War College, Army War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College.
EDUCATION
1. 1999 – Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Louisiana State University, La.
2. 2000 – Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Area Studies, Louisiana State University, La.
3. 2004 – USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
4. 2005 – Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
5. 2009 – Master of Arts degree in International Relations, University of Oklahoma, Okla.
6. 2010 – Air Command and Staff College (by correspondence)
7. 2012 – Master of Science degree in Logistics, Air Force Institute of Technology, Ohio
8. 2013 – Joint Professional Military Education, Phase II, Joint Forces Staff College, Va.
9. 2016 – Air War College (by correspondence)
10. 2020 – Certificate in China: Intelligence Concerns, National Intelligence University, Hawaii
11. 2021 – Distinguished Graduate, Master of Strategic Studies, Advanced Strategic Art Program, U.S. Army War College, Pa.
12. 2023 – Leading Strategically Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colo.
13. 2024 – Cybersecurity: The Intersection of Policy & Technology Course, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Maine
CERTIFICATIONS
1. 2018 – Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2000 – January 2001, Intelligence Officer, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2. January 2001 – November 2001, Student, Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
3. November 2001 – October 2002, Deputy Chief, Intelligence Operations, 35th Operations Support Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
4. October 2002 – July 2003, Chief, Intelligence, 14th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
5. July 2003 – August 2004, Deputy Chief, Intelligence Training and Readiness, 35th Operations Support Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
6. August 2004 – August 2005, Chief, Intelligence Operations and Training, 51st Operations Support Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
7. August 2005 – December 2007, Chief, Intelligence Operations, 48th Operations Support Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
8. December 2007 – February 2010, Flight Commander, Intelligence Operations Flight, 15th Intelligence Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
9. February 2010 – July 2010, Deputy Chief, Intelligence Training Branch, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
10. July 2010 – May 2011, Director of Operations, 6th Intelligence Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
11. May 2011 – June 2012, IDE Student, Logistics Science, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. June 2012 – August 2014, Cyber Operations and Planning Branch Chief, Combined Military Planning and Access Strategies Office, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Md.
13. August 2014 – June 2015, Cyber and Military Planning Deputy Division Chief, Combined Military Planning and Access Strategies Office, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Md.
14. June 2015 – July 2016, Requirements and Targeting Branch Chief, Joint Program Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
16. July 2016 – July 2018, Commander, 352nd Cyberspace Operations Squadron, JBPHH, Hawaii
17. July 2018 – July 2020, Deputy Commander, 692nd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, JBPHH, Hawaii
18. July 2020 – June 2021, Student, Advanced Strategic Art Program, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
19. July 2021 – July 2022, Chief, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Division, 609th, Air Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
20. July 2022 – July 2023, Director of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), Ramstein Air Base, Germany
21. July 2023 – June 2025, Commander, 543d Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, and Deputy Director of Operations, National Security Agency Texas, Texas
22. June 2025 – Present, Commander, 70th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, Fort Meade, Md.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, June 15, 2000
First Lieutenant, June 15, 2002
Captain, June 15, 2004
Major, May 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel, Sept. 1, 2015
Colonel, Aug. 1, 2021
PUBLICATIONS
"Reading the Tea Leaves: Understanding Chinese Deterrence Signaling", Joint Force Quarterly, Oct 2021
(Current as of July 2025)
Colonel Carter has commanded at the group and squadron levels and served in a variety of operational assignments at the Air Operations Center, Major Command, combat support agency, and Headquarters Air Force levels. Additionally, he has extensive experience in joint, interagency and multinational operations and has completed five contingency deployments supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as overseas assignments in Germany, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom. In his last assignment, Colonel Carter served in a dual-hatted role as the Commander of the 543d Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group and the Deputy Director of Operations at National Security Agency – Texas.
Colonel Carter received his commission as an Intelligence Officer through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Louisiana State University in 2000. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Weapons School, Air Command and Staff College, Joint Information Operations Planners Course, Joint Advanced Cyber Warfare Course, Air War College, Army War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College.
EDUCATION
1. 1999 – Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Louisiana State University, La.
2. 2000 – Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Area Studies, Louisiana State University, La.
3. 2004 – USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
4. 2005 – Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
5. 2009 – Master of Arts degree in International Relations, University of Oklahoma, Okla.
6. 2010 – Air Command and Staff College (by correspondence)
7. 2012 – Master of Science degree in Logistics, Air Force Institute of Technology, Ohio
8. 2013 – Joint Professional Military Education, Phase II, Joint Forces Staff College, Va.
9. 2016 – Air War College (by correspondence)
10. 2020 – Certificate in China: Intelligence Concerns, National Intelligence University, Hawaii
11. 2021 – Distinguished Graduate, Master of Strategic Studies, Advanced Strategic Art Program, U.S. Army War College, Pa.
12. 2023 – Leading Strategically Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colo.
13. 2024 – Cybersecurity: The Intersection of Policy & Technology Course, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Maine
CERTIFICATIONS
1. 2018 – Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2000 – January 2001, Intelligence Officer, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2. January 2001 – November 2001, Student, Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
3. November 2001 – October 2002, Deputy Chief, Intelligence Operations, 35th Operations Support Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
4. October 2002 – July 2003, Chief, Intelligence, 14th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
5. July 2003 – August 2004, Deputy Chief, Intelligence Training and Readiness, 35th Operations Support Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
6. August 2004 – August 2005, Chief, Intelligence Operations and Training, 51st Operations Support Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
7. August 2005 – December 2007, Chief, Intelligence Operations, 48th Operations Support Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
8. December 2007 – February 2010, Flight Commander, Intelligence Operations Flight, 15th Intelligence Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
9. February 2010 – July 2010, Deputy Chief, Intelligence Training Branch, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
10. July 2010 – May 2011, Director of Operations, 6th Intelligence Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
11. May 2011 – June 2012, IDE Student, Logistics Science, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. June 2012 – August 2014, Cyber Operations and Planning Branch Chief, Combined Military Planning and Access Strategies Office, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Md.
13. August 2014 – June 2015, Cyber and Military Planning Deputy Division Chief, Combined Military Planning and Access Strategies Office, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Md.
14. June 2015 – July 2016, Requirements and Targeting Branch Chief, Joint Program Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
16. July 2016 – July 2018, Commander, 352nd Cyberspace Operations Squadron, JBPHH, Hawaii
17. July 2018 – July 2020, Deputy Commander, 692nd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, JBPHH, Hawaii
18. July 2020 – June 2021, Student, Advanced Strategic Art Program, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
19. July 2021 – July 2022, Chief, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Division, 609th, Air Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
20. July 2022 – July 2023, Director of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), Ramstein Air Base, Germany
21. July 2023 – June 2025, Commander, 543d Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, and Deputy Director of Operations, National Security Agency Texas, Texas
22. June 2025 – Present, Commander, 70th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, Fort Meade, Md.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, June 15, 2000
First Lieutenant, June 15, 2002
Captain, June 15, 2004
Major, May 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel, Sept. 1, 2015
Colonel, Aug. 1, 2021
PUBLICATIONS
"Reading the Tea Leaves: Understanding Chinese Deterrence Signaling", Joint Force Quarterly, Oct 2021
(Current as of July 2025)
