Lt Col Joshua M. Kirkum is the Professor of Aerospace Studies and the Commander of Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps for Detachment 520 at Cornell University. He is responsible for educating, training, and inspiring young men and women to become officers of character, leading the United States Air Force and Space Force in service to our Nation.
Lt Col Kirkum commissioned in 2003 through Air Force Officer Training School after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He has since earned two post graduate degrees and a graduate certificate. He is a Master Navigator and evaluator with more than 3,300 hours in C-130E/H and MC-130H aircraft, conducting Special Operations airlift, airdrop and aerial refueling missions worldwide. He has deployed to combat zones 13 times, supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Odyssey Dawn, Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel, and numerous unnamed operations throughout Southeast Asia. Prior to his current position, the Lt Col was the Special Operations Branch Chief at Headquarters U.S. Space Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Mansfield University, Mansfield, Pa.
2006 Master of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership, Touro University, New York, N.Y.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2014 Master of Arts in International Relations, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Investment, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2003 – May 2003, Officer Candidate, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2. May 2003 – July 2004, Undergraduate Navigator Student, 562nd Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. July 2004 – February 2005, Navigator Student, 314th Operational Support Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
4. February 2005 – May 2007, Navigator, 2nd Airlift Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C. (June 2005 – October 2005, C-130E/H Navigator, 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait) (February 2006 – July 2006, C-130E/H Navigator, 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait)
5. May 2007 – June 2008, C-130 Instructor Navigator and Flight Scheduler, 2nd Airlift Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C. (June 2007 – October 2007, C-130E/H Instructor Navigator, 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait)
6. June 2008 – February 2009, MC-130H Navigator and Current Operations, 7th Special Operations Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, UK
7. February 2009 – October 2010, MC-130H Navigator and Group Flight Commander Aircrew Flight Equipment, 7th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK
8. October 2010 – July 2012, MC-130H Instructor/Evaluator Navigator and Mobility Flight Commander, 7th Special Operations Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, UK (August 2011 – Dec 2011, MC-130H Navigator, 15th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, Joint Base Bagram, Afghanistan)
9. July 2012 – June 2013, Chief of Group Standardizations and Evaluations for MC-130 Branch, 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (December 2012 – April 2013, MC-130H Navigator, 15th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, Joint Base Bagram, Afghanistan)
10. June 2013 – January 2014, Wing Special Mission Plans Flight Commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
11. January 2014 – August 2015, Flight Commander and Assistant Operations Officer for Wing Special Mission Plans, 1st Special Operations Air Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
12. August 2015 – June 2016, Operations Officer for Joint Air Operations Center, Aviation Tactics and Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. (March 2016 – August 2016, Special Operations Liaison for Joint Special Operations Command, 603rd Air Operations Center, Ramstein Air Base, Germany)
13. July 2019 – April 2020, Deputy Division Chief of Training, Weapons and Tactics, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
14. April 2020 – July 2022, Special Operations Branch Chief, Headquarters U.S. Space Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.
15. July 2022 – Present, Commander Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Detachment 520, Cornell University, N.Y.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2015 – July 2015, Mission Commander, 15th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component, Joint Base Bagram, Afghanistan, as a major
2. June 2016 – January 2017, Air Operations Planner for Joint Air Operations Center, Aviation Tactics and Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. as a major
3. January 2017 – June 2017, Director of Exercises and Training, Aviation Tactics and Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. as a major
4. June 2017 – July 2019, Director of J5 Special Plans Division, Aviation Tactics and Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. as a major and lieutenant colonel
5. April 2017 – August 2017, Commander, Joint Special Operations Air Detachment – Afghanistan, Joint Base Bagram, Afghanistan as a major)
6. January 2018 – April 2018, Commander, Joint Special Operations Air Detachment – Middle East, Southeast Asia, as a lieutenant colonel
7. September 2018 – October 2018, Deputy Commander, Joint Special Operations Air Command, Southeast Asia, as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: More than 3,300, including more than 1,400 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-43, T-1, C-130E, C-130H, MC-130H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
NATO Medal with service star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 16, 2003
First Lieutenant May 16, 2005
Captain May 16, 2007
Major April 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel February 1, 2018
(Current as of August 2022)