Colonel Stephen P. Joca

Col. Stephen "Banjo" Joca is the Deputy Commander, 332 Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia. The composite wing includes a wide array of combat Air Force capabilities including precision strike, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and combat search and rescue in direct support of U.S. Air Forces Central and U.S. Central Command priorities. The wing is comprised of eight Mission Generation Force Elements, an Expeditionary Air Base Group, two Staff directorates, and 13 additional operational and support function squadrons with more than 3,600 total force Airmen.

Col. Joca entered the Air Force in May 2003 through the United States Air Force Academy. He completed pilot training in April 2004 at Columbus AFB, Miss., and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) qualification in September 2012. Col. Joca has held a variety of positions at the squadron, group, and wing levels. Prior to this assignment, he commanded the 23d Fighter Group, "Flying Tigers", Moody AFB, Ga. Col. Joca directed the flying and support operations of the Combat Air Forces’ largest A-10 operational fighter group consisting of two combat-ready A-10C Thunderbolt II squadrons, an operations support squadron, and an Air Force range squadron.

He is a command pilot with more than 2,000 flying hours in the A-10, including 466 combat hours in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, as well as a JTAC and air liaison officer at the Division, Brigade, and Battalion level in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

EDUCATION

2003 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.

2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2011 Masters of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus

2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

2016 Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.

2017 Masters of Operational Art and Science, School of Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.

2022 Masters of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. February 2004 – April 2005, Student Pilot, 14th Flying Group, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. October 2005 – April 2006, A-10 Student Pilot, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
3. April 2006 – February 2008, Electronic Combat Pilot/A-10 Flight Lead, Pope AFB, N.C.
4. February 2008 – April 2011, Chief of Fixed Wing Safety/A-10C Instructor Pilot, Moody AFB, Ga.
5. April 2011 – January 2014, Assistant Director of Operations and Joint Terminal Attack Controller, 25th Air Support Operations Squadron, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii
6. January 2014 – June 2015, Assistant Director of Operations and Executive Officer, 51st Operations Group, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
7. June 2015 – June 2017, IDE/ASG Student, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
8. August 2017 – May 2019, Director of Operations and A-10C Flight Examiner, 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
9. May 2019 – May 2021, Commander and A-10C Flight Examiner, 75th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
10. June 2021 – June 2022, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
11. June 2022 – June 2025, Chief of China Plans, USINDOPACOM, Camp Smith, Hawaii
12. June 2025 – Present, Commander, 23d Fighter Group, Moody AFB, Ga.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

1. June 2022 – June 2024, Chief of East/SE Asia Plans, USINDOPACOM J5, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as a lieutenant colonel
2. June 2024 – June 2025, Chief of China Plans, USINDOPACOM J5, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as a colonel

FLIGHT INFORMATION

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS