Col. Ariel G. Batungbacal is the Commander, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. She commands the U.S. Air Force’s sole service intelligence center – one of only six in the Department of Defense – comprised of four operational groups, five directorates, 17 squadrons, and more than 3,700 military, civilians, contractors globally. She oversees $1.8 billion in center facilities and executes a $747 million operating budget, with NASIC serving as the primary DoD producer of scientific and technical foundational intelligence for the characterization and all-source collection of the integration of air, space, cyber, and C4ISR threats. In this role, she holds broad authority to independently provide intelligence to policymakers, acquisition programs, and warfighters.
Col. Batungbacal earned her commission from the University of Maryland at College Park. As a career intelligence officer, her assignments have spanned the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of war throughout multiple theaters of operation. She has commanded at the squadron and group levels. Previously appointed a White House Fellow, she has also served in multiple Joint assignments, including the Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy in International Security Affairs. Col. Batungbacal deployed in support of contingency operations, to include Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Inherent Resolve.
Prior to this assignment, Col. Batungbacal commanded the Air and Cyberspace Intelligence Group, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Operations Research, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2001 Bachelor of Arts, Chinese, University of Maryland at College Park, Md.
2001 Bachelor of Arts, Government/Politics, University of Maryland at College Park, Md.
2001 Advanced Certificate in Multi-Track Diplomacy, Center for International Development & Conflict Management,
University of Maryland at College Park, Md.
2005 Master of Diplomacy, Norwich University, Vt.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Executive Masters in Leadership, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2013 White House Fellow, Washington, D.C.
2014 Air War College, by correspondence
2018 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2001 – September 2002, student, Intelligence Officer Applications Course, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
2. September 2002 – October 2003, Chief, Combat Plans, 607th Air Intelligence Squadron, Osan Air Base, Korea
3. October 2003 – July 2004, Deputy Chief, Intelligence Weapons & Tactics, 31st Operations Support Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
4. July 2004 August 2005, Chief of Intelligence, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy (August 2005 – January 2006, Chief of Intelligence, 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Balad AB, Iraq)
5. April 2006 – June 2010, Chief, Intelligence Operations, Space & Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. (May 2007 – November 2007, Analyst, Joint Task Force, Balad AB, Iraq) (April 2009 – April 2010, Deputy Chief, ISR Operations Team, 609th Air Operations Center, Qatar)
6. June 2010 – March 2012, Joint Staff J2 Branch Chief, Middle East Strategy, the Joint Staff, Washington D.C.
7. March 2012 – August 2012, Deputy Executive Assistant to Director of Intelligence, the Joint Staff, Washington D.C.
8. August 2012 – September 2013, White House Fellow, Washington, D.C.
9. September 2013 – December 2013, Director of Operations, 361st Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
10. December 2013 – June 2015, Director of Operations, 25th Intelligence Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (October 2014 – January 2014, Detachment Commander, Detachment 1, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan)
11. June 2015 – June 2017, Commander, 450th Intelligence Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
12. July 2017 – June 2018, Student, National War College, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2018 – June 2020, Military Assistant to Assistant Secretary for Policy of International Security Affairs, Office of Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
14. July 2020 – June 2022, Commander, Air and Cyberspace Intelligence Group, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
15. June 2022 – present, Commander, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2010 – March 2012, Joint Staff J2 Branch Chief, Middle East Strategy, the Joint Staff, Washington D.C., as a major
2. March 2012 – August 2012, Deputy Executive Assistant to Director of Intelligence, the Joint Staff, Washington D.C., as a major
3. June 2018 – June 2020, Military Assistant to Assistant Secretary for Policy of International Security Affairs, Office of Secretary of Defense, Washington D.C., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2007 Air Force Space Command Company Grade Officer of the Year
2011 Office of the Director of National Intelligence - National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation
2013 Secretary of Labor Exceptional Service Award
2014 25th Air Force Field Grade Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 25, 2001
First Lieutenant May 1, 2003
Captain May 1, 2005
Major June 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2015
Colonel March 1, 2019
(Current as of July 2024)