Colonel Paul “Voodoo” Davidson is the Deputy Commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. He assists the Wing Commander in leading more than 5,500 personnel in the Air Force’s most forward, permanently based fighter wing. The 51st Fighter Wing, comprised of two fighter squadrons and 15 support squadrons, provides combat-ready forces in the defense of the Republic of Korea. He leads wing staff personnel and provides guidance for nine wing committees. Colonel Davidson assists in the administration of more than $150 million for 130 units in order to defend the base, execute contingency operations, and sustain the acceptance of follow-on forces.
Colonel Davidson received his commission and Bachelors of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2001. Upon his commission, he completed Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, TX. He is a command pilot with 1,900 flying hours in the F-16, including 250 combat hours over Iraq. He has served as an instructor pilot and standardization and evaluation flight examiner in the F-16. Colonel Davidson served as a MiG-1 and the Director of Operations for the 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB, NV. He then commanded the 8th Operations Support Squadron at Kunsan AB, ROK. Colonel Davidson is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College. Prior to this assignment, he was the Executive Officer and Special Advisor to the NORAD Deputy Commander.
EDUCATION
2001 - Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, CO
2007 - Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009 - Master of International Relations, Troy University, by correspondence
2011 - Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2012 - Master of Air and Space Studies, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 - Service Chief Fellow, DARPA
2020 - Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Ft McNair, DC
2020 - National Leadership Preparedness Initiative, Cohort XVIIII, Harvard University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2002 – February 2003, student, EURO-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, TX
2. June 2003 – March 2004, student, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, 308th FS, Luke AFB, AZ
3. April 2004 – May 2006, SELO and Chief of Training, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
4. May 2006 – May 2007, Wing Electronic Combat Pilot, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
5. May 2007 – June 2008, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, ROK
6. June 2008 – June 2009, Chief F-16 Wing Weapons and Tactics, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, ROK
7. June 2009 – May 2011, Flight Commander and Assistant Director of Operations, 55th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, SC
8. May 2011 – February 2012, Aide de Camp to the CC, 9th Air Force, Shaw AFB, SC
9. July 2012 – June 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
10. July 2013 – June 2015, Chief of AESA/Int’l F-16, SAF/IA, Pentagon, Washington DC
11. July 2015 – May 2017, Chief of Safety, 57th Wing, and Director of Ops, 64th AGRS, Nellis AFB, NV
12. June 2017 – June 2018, Commander, 8th OSS, Kunsan AB, ROK
13. July 2018 – July 2019, Chief of F-35 Fighter Branch, SAF/IA, Pentagon, Washington DC
14. July 2019 – June 2020, Student, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington DC
15. July 2020 – April 2021, J521 Branch Chief, NORAD/USNORTHCOM
16. April 2021 – May 2022, Executive Officer/Special Advisor to the NORAD Deputy Commander
17. June 2022 – Present, Deputy Commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, ROK
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: 2000
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2020 – April 2021, Strategy Branch Chief, NORAD and USNORTHCOM, as a lieutenant colonel
2. April 2021 – May 2022, Executive Officer/Special Advisor to the Deputy Commander, NORAD, as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant - May 31, 2001
First Lieutenant - May 31, 2003
Captain - May 31, 2005
Major - Feb 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel - Jan 1, 2016
Colonel - Sep 1, 2021
(Current as of July 2022)