[2] From 2002 to 2004, he was an Air Force Olmsted Scholar and studied as a graduate research student at Tongji University in Shanghai, China.

In March 1992, he was appointed as the Officer in Charge of strategic plans at the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, serving until August 1993.

He then became a student pilot with the 87th Flying Training Squadron at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, from August 1993 to September 1994.

Following this, he underwent B-52 Stratofortress upgrade training with the 11th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, from November 1994 to May 1995.

[2] From June 1995 to May 1998, Spalding served as a B-52 Pilot and aircraft commander with the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.

Following his return from graduate research study in China, he was assigned to Whiteman AFB, as a B-2 Spirit instructor/evaluator pilot and assistant director of operations with the 393rd Bomb Squadron from April 2004 to June 2006.

Spalding then returned to the Pentagon as the Chief of the China, Mongolia, Taiwan Division, Joint Staff, J-5, from June 2014 to July 2016.

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