Colonel Freestrom is the Commander, 55th Communications Group, 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., where she leads Air Combat Command’s only Communications Group. Her team of over 400 Airmen provides vital cyber operations and command and control for the Air Force’s largest and most diverse wing and 595th Command and Control Group. In addition, the 55th Communications Group provides critical nuclear command and control and missile warning communications support for United States Strategic Command and the National Airborne Operations Center.
Colonel Freestrom entered the Air Force in 2001 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. She commanded at the 509th Communications Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Missouri and has completed staff tours at the Agency, Major Command, and Combatant Command level. Colonel Freestrom has deployed twice in support of contingency operations to include Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2003 Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, in resident equivalent
2016 Air War College, by correspondence
2017 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2001 – March 2003, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2. March 2003 – June 2005, Officer in Charge, Technical Control Facility, Air Combat Command Circuit Management, and Network Operations Center Crew Commander, 83d Communications Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
3. June 2005 – March 2007, Lead Engineer for Space and Intelligence Systems, Engineering Division, Air Force Communication Agency, Scott AFB, Ill.
4. March 2007 – June 2009, Chief Network Control Center, and Chief of Quality Assurance, 375th Communications Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill.
5. June 2009 – July 2010, Chief of Mission Systems and Support, 624th Operations Center, 24th Air Force, Lackland AFB, Texas
6. July 2010 – July 2012, Officer in Charge of the Major Command Communications Coordination Center, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
7. July 2012 – July 2015, Branch Chief Exercise and Campaign Plans, Deputy Division Chief Enterprise Readiness and Continuity, Deputy Director of Operations, Operations Directorate, for the Communications and Information Officer, Defense Intelligence Agency, Joint-Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
8. July 2015 – October 2017, Branch Chief Future Capabilities, System Level Support Division, Communications Directorate, Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9. October 2017 – May 2018, Division Chief Plans Application Support, Plans Directorate, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
10. May 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 509th Communications Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
11. June 2020 – March 2022, Deputy Chief, Cyberspace Transformation Division, Cyberspace and Warfighting Communications Directorate, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
12. March 2022 – July 2024, Deputy, Cyberspace and Information Dominance Directorate, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
13. June 2024 – Present, Commander, 55th Communications Group, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with third oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Medal
(Current as of Jan. 7, 2025)