Col. Bart Van Roo, 115th Fighter Wing Commander
As commander, Col. Bart Van Roo is responsible for nearly 1,200 active-guard and traditional forces that support the President of the United States and the Governor of Wisconsin. With a premier fighter and mission support force made up of superior and reliable personnel, the 115th is able to successfully support community, state, and federal missions. Col. Van Roo attended the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater and University of Wisconsin-Madison and received his commission through the Academy of Military Science in April 1999. Col. Van Roo began his military career in 1992 when he enlisted at the 115th Fighter Wing, Madison, Wisconsin as an Aeromedical Specialist. He served as a Non Commissioned Officer until 1998. In 2000, he graduated from specialized undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. He then went on to complete the F-16 Training Course, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Col. Van Roo returned to the 115th Fighter Wing where he held numerous positions within operations, including as an F-16 pilot in support of Operation Noble Eagle as an Aerospace Control Pilot, and served at the 176th Fighter Squadron Director of Operations. In 2017, Col. Van Roo was appointed the 176th Fighter Squadron Commander, and was deployed to the Korean Peninsula with the 8th Fighter Wing as the 176th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron Commander. He then served as the 115th Fighter Wing Inspector General. Prior to his current position, Col. Van Roo was the Director of Operations, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Madison, Wis. In addition, the colonel was the Northern Lightning Exercise director at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center.