Major Juan Pablo “BONES” Flores serves as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies and Recruiting Officer at Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 765, The Citadel, in Charleston, South Carolina. As the Recruiting Officer, Major Flores oversees all recruiting activities for one of the largest cadet corps in the Air Force.
Major Flores enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in March 2004. As an Airman he served as an Electronic Systems Security Analyst (ESSA), Deputy Chief of Protocol, and as an Executive Flight Attendant. After graduating from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, he earned his commission through Officer Training School in 2013. Prior to his current assignment, Major Flores served as the Chief of Flight Safety, 49 Wing, Holloman AFB, NM. He has flown in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, INHERENT RESOLVE, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, and ODYSSEY RESOLVE. As an MQ-9 Reaper Pilot he has accumulated over 2,500 flight hours.
Education
2008 Airman Leadership School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2009 Associate of Communications Applications Technology, Community
College of the Air Force
2011 Associate of Aviation Operations, CCAF
2012 Bachelor of Workforce Education and Development, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Ill
2019 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala
2023 Master of Occupational Safety and Health, Columbia Southern University, Ala
Assignments
June 2004—July 2006; ESSA, 426th Information Operations Squadron, Vogelweh AB, Germany
July 2006—December 2007; ESSA, 68th Network Warfare Squadron, Brooks City Base, Texas
December 2007—December 2008; Deputy Chief of Protocol, 67th Network Warfare Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas
January 2009—August 2013; Executive Flight Attendant, 54th Airlift Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill
August 2013—June 2014; Student Pilot, 558th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
June 2014—October 2014; Student Pilot, 9th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
October 2014—October 2017; MQ-9 Pilot, Ellsworth AFB, SD
October 2017—July 2021; Assistant Director of Operations; MQ-9 Reaper Instructor Pilot, Whiteman AFB, Mo
July 2021–July 2024; Chief of Flight Safety; MQ-9 Evaluator Pilot, Holloman AFB, NM
July2024-Present; Associate Professor of Aerospace Studies and Recruiting Officer, AFROTC Detachment 765, The Citadel, Charleston, SC.
Flight Information
Rating: Senior RPA Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 2,500 hours (Combat hours: 1,800)
Aircraft Flown: MQ-9
Major Awards and Decorations
Meritorious Service Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with twenty-three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air & Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air & Space Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with one service star
Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal with five service stars
NATO Medal
Effective Dates of Promotion
Airman March 02, 2004
Airman First Class January 02, 2005
Senior Airman March 02, 2007
Staff Sergeant June 01, 2009
Second Lieutenant August 06, 2013
First Lieutenant August 06, 2015
Captain August 06, 2017
Major February 01, 2023
(CURRENT AS OF AUGUST 2024)