Col Robert B. Olvis is Commander of the Air Force Inspection Agency, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The agency is a diverse team of experts who provide independent inspection, evaluation, oversight, training and analysis to advance continuous improvement of mission effectiveness at all Air Force levels. As the Air Force Inspection System action arm for the Secretary of the Air Force, the agency identifies deficiencies and recommends improvements for accomplishing peacetime and wartime missions and evaluates Air Force activities and policies. The agency also provides by-law and compliance oversight of Air Force-level Field Operating Agencies and Direct Reporting Units and headquarters inspections of above-the-wing level (HAF/MAJCOM/NAF and select FOAs/DRUs).
Col Olvis was commissioned in 2001 as a distinguished graduate of the University of Central Florida Reserve Officer Training Corps and earned his pilot wings at Vance AFB, Oklahoma. He has served in a variety of positions to include USAF Weapons School F-15E Weapons Instructor Course Instructor Pilot, Aide-de-Camp Commander International Security Assistance Forces Afghanistan, Director of Operations and Commander 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, Operations Officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff J35 Deputy Directorate for Regional Operations and Air Forces Central Command Director of Operations at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. Prior to this assignment Col Olvis served as the Deputy Commander, 48th FW, RAF Lakenheath, UK.
Col Olvis is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours in the F-15E. He has flown over 950 combat hours in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and INHERENT RESOLVE.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Liberal Studies, University of Central Florida, Orlando
2001 Aerospace Basic School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2012 Master of Business Administration and Management, Trident University, Cypress, Calif.
2020 Masters of Art, National Resource Strategy, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2002 – August 2003, Student Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. November 2003 – August 2004, Student F-15E Formal Training, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
3. August 2004 – March 2007, Chief of Scheduling, 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. (January 2006 – May 2006, F-15E Flight Lead 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Undisclosed Location)
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4. March 2007 – December 2009, Flight Commander, 494th Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, UK (June 2008 – October 2008, F-15E Evaluation Pilot, 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Undisclosed Location)
5. February 2010 – March 2012, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho (September 2011 – November 2011, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Undisclosed Location)
6. March 2012 – July 2015, USAF Weapons School Instructor, Nellis AFB, Nev. (April 2013 – April 2014 Aide-de-Camp, Commander International Security Assistance Forces, Kabul, AG)
7. July 2015 – June 2016, Chief Wing Weapons and Tactics, 366th Operations Support Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
8. June 2016 – May 2019, Director of Operations, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
9. May 2019, Commander, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho (October 2018 – April 2019, Commander, 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Undisclosed Location)
10. August 2019 – June 2020, Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. June 2020 – June 2022, Operations Officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff J35, Global Force Management and Joint Operations Division – North America, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2022 – June 2023, Director of Operations, USAFCENT/A3, Al Udeid AB, QA
13. July 2023 – May 25, Deputy Commander, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, UK
14. May 25 – Present, Commander, Air Force Inspection Agency, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2020 – June 2022, Operations Officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff J35, Global Force Management and Joint Operations Division – North America, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. as a lieutenant colonel
2. June 2022 – June 2023, Director of Operations, USAFCENT/A3, Al Udeid AB, Doha, Qatar as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 3,000+
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-15E
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant December 30, 2001
First Lieutenant December 30, 2003
Captain December 30, 2005
Major December 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2016
Colonel June 1, 2022
(Current as of Jul 2025)