Lt. Col. Bridget S. Zorn is the commander of the 264th Combat Communications Squadron, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois. She commands Airmen across multiple Air Force Specialty Codes into a top-tier expeditionary cyber team providing the rapid deployment of equipment and manpower needed to establish and provide self-supported, initial communications services in support of worldwide contingencies and state emergency operations.
Lt. Col. Zorn grew up in St. Louis and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a Cryptologic Linguist in 1994. After completing initial upgrade training, she arrived at her first duty assignment as a linguist and RC-135 Rivet Joint crewmember with the 390th Intelligence Squadron in Okinawa, Japan, in October 1996. She transferred to the Air National Guard as an information manager in February 2000 and in 2003 was commissioned through the Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, Tennessee.
As an Air National Guard officer, Lt. Col. Zorn has served in diverse operational and support roles at squadron, group and wing levels, including public affairs officer, executive officer, sexual assault response coordinator and space officer. Lt. Col. Zorn has participated in numerous inspections and exercises, performed state emergency duty and deployed in support of Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Freedom’s Sentinel. Prior to her current position, the lieutenant colonel served as the commander of the 239th Combat Communications Squadron, Jefferson Barracks ANGB, Missouri.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Arts, Communications, University of Missouri, St. Louis
2003 Academy of Military Science, Air University, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2004 Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Md., by correspondence
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Undergraduate Space Training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
2010 Air Operations Center Formal Training Unit, Combat Operations, 505th Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2011 Air Operations Center Formal Training Unit, Strategy, 505th Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2011 Space Warfighter Prep Course, Advanced Space Operations School, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2015 Air Operations Center Formal Training Unit, Combat Plans, 505th Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2015 Master of Arts, Management and Leadership and Human Resources Development, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.
2018 Air National Guard Squadron Commander Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 1994–February 1995, Trainee, 737th Training Group, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. February 1995–October 1996, Student, Cryptologic Linguist Apprentice Training, Presidio of Monterey, Calif.; Goodfellow AFB, Texas; Fairchild AFB, Wash.
3. October 1996–October 1999, Airborne Linguist, 390th Intelligence Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan; (April 1999–June 1999, Computer Systems Operator, 12th Expeditionary Intelligence Squadron, Prince Sultan AB, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
4. October 1999-February 2000, Member, Inactive Ready Reserve
5. February 2000–June 2003, Information Manager, 131st Operations Group, Lambert ANGB, Mo.
6. June 2003–December 2005, Public Affairs Officer, 131st Fighter Wing, Lambert ANGB, Mo.
7. December 2005–October 2009, Wing Executive Officer, 131st Fighter Wing, Lambert ANGB, Mo. (January 2007–April 2007, Executive Officer, 506th Air Expeditionary Group, Kirkuk AB, Iraq)
8. October 2009–January 2012, Space and Missile Operations, Satellite Command and Control, 157th Air Operations Group, Jefferson Barracks ANGB, Mo.
9. January 2012–November 2018, Space Strategy Planner, 157th Air Operations Group, Jefferson Barracks ANGB, Mo. (November 2012–June 2013, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia; January 2016–July 2016, Space Planner, Combined Air and Space Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
10. November 2018–September 2022, Commander, 239th Combat Communications Squadron, Jefferson Barracks ANGB, Mo.
11. September 2022–Present, Commander, 264th Combat Communications Squadron, Peoria, Ill.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Distinguished Graduate, Information Manager Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2008 Officer of the Year, 131st Fighter Wing, Lambert ANGB, Mo.
2013 Field Grade Officer of the Year, 157th Air Operations Group, Jefferson Barracks ANGB, Mo.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 23, 2003
First Lieutenant June 23, 2005
Captain June 23, 2007
Major Dec. 12, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 21, 2018
(Current as of September 2022)