Colonel Raymond K. Rounds is the Commander, Ira C. Eaker Center for Leadership Development at Maxwell, Air Force Base (AFB), Alabama. The Eaker Center develops leaders and educates warfighters, while also providing functionally-aligned technical training, and professional continuing education to Department of Defense personnel. The Center is comprised of seven primary schools: Commanders' Professional Development School, Warfighting Education, Force Support Professional Development School, Air Force Chaplain Corps College, Air Force Culture and Language Center, the Chinese Aerospace Studies Institute, and the Defense Financial Management and Comptroller School. Each year, the Center educates more than 30,000 students in the classroom and via distance learning.
Colonel Rounds commissioned in 2003 as a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has served as an instructor pilot in both the F-15E and Mirage 2000D and has deployed multiple times in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, SPARTAN SHIELD, INHERENT RESOLVE, and ALLIES REFUGE. Colonel Rounds also served as the Strategy Team Chief for the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Maryland and the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and holds a PhD in Government from Georgetown University.
Prior to his current position, the Colonel was Deputy Commander of the LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education
EDUCATION
2003 Distinguished Graduate, Bachelor of Science, Political Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2005 Master of Public Policy, International Relations, University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
2010 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Associate Degree (with Honors), French, Defense Language Institute, Monterrey, Calif.
2015 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Military Operational Art and Science Degree, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2016 Master of Philosophy, Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2019 Doctorate of Philosophy (with Distinction), Government, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. May 2003 – June 2005, student, University of Maryland, School of Public Policy Scholar Fellowship Program, College Park, Md.
2. June 2005 – December 2006, student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
3. December 2006 – December 2007, student, F-15E Initial Qualification Course, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
4. December 2007 – May 2011, F-15E Instructor Pilot/Flight Commander, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
5. May 2011 – December 2011, Student, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, Calif.
6. December 2011 – July 2014, Mirage 2000D Instructor Pilot/Assistant Director of Operations, Military Personnel Exchange Program, 1/3 Fighter Squadron, Ochey Air Base, France
7. July 2014 – July 2015, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 2015 – July 2016, student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. July 2016 – June 2019, PhD Candidate, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
10. June 2019 – June 2021, Strategy Team Chief, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. June 2021 – May 2022, Commander, 380th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates
12. June 2022 – September 2023, Director of Staff and Professor of Strategy and Security Studies, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. October 2023 – July 2025, Deputy Commander, Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. July 2025 – Present, Commander, Ira C. Eaker Center for Leadership Development, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight hours: 1,200
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, Alpha Jet, F-15E, Mirage2000D
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2003
First Lieutenant May 28, 2005
Captain May 28, 2007
Major May 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2017
Colonel April 1, 2023
(Current as of August 2025)