Colonel Scott Adams is the Deputy Commander, Air Forces Space, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. He synchronizes the planning, training, and execution of air component resources in support of air, space, and information operations for U.S. Space Command. He oversees the planning and execution of contingency operations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) human space flight programs and ensures Department of Defense personnel are properly trained for the rescue, recovery, and retrieval of NASA-sponsored astronauts and equipment.
Col. Adams entered the Air Force in 2000, after receiving his commission through the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Northern Arizona University. Quickly thereafter, he was assigned to the Combat Search and Rescue mission flying the HH-60G Pave Hawk. During that time, he deployed to Europe and Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and supported Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) in Liberia. In 2009, he was selected to become a combat exchange pilot in France. After language training and gaining qualification in the EC-725 Caracal, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and later became the Assistant Director of Operations of Tactics.
Col. Adams then joined the staff at Air Combat Command where he was the chief of the Combat Air Forces Scheduling branch, as well as the Exercise and Joint Operations branch. Following his assignment at ACC, Col. Adams served concurrently as the Director of Staff for the 377th Air Base Wing and as an HH-60G instructor pilot at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
In 2018, he commanded the 459th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan where he led mission-ready UH-1N and C-12J aircrews in the execution of distinguished visitor and operational support airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and search and rescue missions throughout Japan and neighboring nations within United States Indo-Pacific Command’s area of responsibility. After command, Col. Adams served as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In this capacity, he formulated and executed strategic policies, plans, and programs across a 104-country area of responsibility. Prior to his current assignment, Col. Adams served as the Defense Air Attaché to Belgium and Luxembourg at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels. In this capacity, he was the senior military advisor to the U.S. Ambassador and represented Department of Defense interests to the European Union.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz.
2005 Master of Arts, Human Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by correspondence
2012 Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2000 - October 2002, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
2. October 2002 - October 2005, HH-60G Pilot, 56th Rescue Squadron, Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland
3. October 2005 - February 2008, HH-60G Instructor Pilot, 55th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
4. November 2008 - December 2011, EC-725 Pilot, 1/67 Helicopter Squadron, Cazaux AB, France
5. December 2011 - December 2014, Chief of Exercise and Joint Operations Branch, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
6. December 2014 - October 2016, HH-60G Instructor Pilot, Director of Staff, 377th AB Wing, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
7. October 2016 - July 2018, Operations Officer, UH-1N Instructor Pilot, 459th Airlift Squadron, 374 Airlift Wing, Yokota AB, Japan
8. July 2018 - July 2020, Commander, 459th Airlift Squadron, 374th AW, Yokota AB, Japan
9. July 2020 - July 2021, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany
10. August 2021 - February 2022, Student, Joint Military Attaché School, Washington D.C.
11. February 2022 - May 2026, United States Air Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Brussels, Belgium
12. May 2026 - Present. Deputy 1st Air Force /Air Forces Space, 1st Air Force, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,000
Aircraft flown: T-37B, HH-60G, EC-725 and UH-1N
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal
(CURRENT AS OF JUNE 2026)