Lieutenant Colonel Daniel J. "Dan" Simonsen is the Commander of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Detachment 305, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, Louisiana. Detachment 305 recruits, educates, trains, motivates, selects, and commissions officer candidates through a comprehensive college program. The detachment provides academic instruction on fundamental Air Force doctrine, practical leadership experience, and extensive field training emphasizing physical fitness and officership to prepare future officers for active duty.

Colonel Simonsen entered the Air Force Officer Training School in June 1986, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in September 1986, and entered weapons controller training at Tyndall AFB, FL in October of that year. His career includes assignments as a unit weapons controller, mission crew commander, instructor and evaluator, weapons and tactics officer, and deployed commander.

His joint experience includes duty in the Directorate of Plans, Joint Interagency Task Force - West and a deployment to Headquarters, United States Central Command. Colonel Simonsen is a Master Air Battle Manager who has conducted combat operations as a Mission Crew Commander during OPERATION ALLIED FORCE. The colonel served as a Major Air Command action officer at Headquarters Air Combat Command, Directorate of Requirements where he was responsible for the eight modernization programs including the continental United States Air Defense Systems and the National Capitol Region.