Colonel Clifford M. Taylor is the Commander, 113th Wing, District of Columbia Air National Guard, Joint Base Andrews, Md. His responsibilities encompass a wing with over 1,100 members. Flying units within the wing include the 121st Fighter and 201st Airlift Squadrons. The 121st is responsible for F-16C missions including overseas combat operations and the 24/7 National Capital Aerospace Control Alert duty and the 201st utilizes the C-40C to execute special air missions for cabinet officials and Congressional members.
Colonel Taylor is a native of Sayreville, NJ. Following his graduation from high school, Colonel Taylor enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a Security Specialist assigned to Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. where he deployed to support Operation JTF SAFEHAVEN Panama, and Defense Support to Civil Authorities to the Oklahoma City Bombing. Following his graduation from American University, Washington DC in 1998, he served as a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in the Washington, DC Field Office. Colonel Taylor earned his pilot wings from Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, Miss. As a District of Columbia Air National Guardsman, Colonel Taylor flew the F-16C+ and deployed to combat operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.
Colonel Taylor has commanded operations at the Squadron, Group, and Wing level. Most recently, Colonel Taylor served as the ANG A3/10 Deputy Director for Air Operations. In this role, he led the staff synchronization of all fighter, mobility, special operations, surveillance, C2, nuclear, and space operations executed within the National Guard enterprise. He is a graduate of The University of Virginia Darden School of Business, The Eisenhower School at the National Defense University, and is a fellow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI. Colonel Taylor is married to the former Jessica Earle of Oakton, VA and they have two children, Gabriel (18), and Daniel (15).
EDUCATION
1993 United States Air Force Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
1998 Bachelor of Arts, American University, Washington, D.C.
2004 Air National Guard Academy of Military Sciences, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
2008 Fighter Electronic Combat Officers Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
2015 Intermediate Development (Squadron Commander) Course, JB Andrews, Md.
2015 Master of Business Administration, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
2017 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
2017 Joint Air Component Coordination Element Course (JACCE), Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
2021 Master of Science, National Security, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2022 Seminar XXI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Washington D.C.
2026 Senior Leader Nuclear Management Course, Kirtland AFB, Nm.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1993 - November 1996, Security Specialist, 72D Security Police Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2. November 2004 – January 2006, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. January 2006 – December 2006, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. January 2007 – August 2013, F-16C Pilot and Flight Commander, 121st Fighter Squadron, JB Andrews, Md.
5. September 2013 – April 2015, Director J5/7 DCANG JFHQ, Washington, D.C.
6. May 2015 – September 2015, Officer in Charge, Reserve Support Element, Defense Intelligence Agency D.C.
7. October 2015 – January 2016, C-40 Transition Training, 201st Airlift Squadron, JB Andrews, Md.
8. July 2016 – September 2018, Director of Operations, 113th Operations Support Squadron, JB Andrews, Md.
9. October 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 201st Airlift Squadron, JB Andrews, Md.
10. May 2020 – July 2020, Joint Task Force Monuments/QRF Commander, DCNG JFHQ, Washington D.C.
11. June 2020 – June 2021, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Ft McNair, Washington D.C.
12. June 2021 – June 2023, Deputy Chief, Homeland Division, Joint Staff, J-5, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. June 2023 – August 2025, Commander, 113th Operations Group, JB Andrews, Md.
14. August 2025 – April 2026, Deputy Director – Air Operations, Air National Guard, A3/10 JB Andrews, Md.
15. May 2026 – Present, Commander, 113th Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,000 (including combat hours)
Aircraft flown: F-16C, C-40, T-38C, and T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September 10, 2004
First Lieutenant September 10, 2006
Captain September 10, 2008
Major February 11, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel March 11, 2018
Colonel May 26, 2022
(CURRENT AS OF MAY 2026)