Colonel John F. Benson is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration for Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany. As the air component to the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, USAFE-AFAFRICA is responsible for providing full-spectrum warfighting capabilities to both combatant commanders throughout their area of responsibility, which encompasses 104 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, and possesses more than a quarter of the world’s population and world’s gross domestic product.
Colonel Benson was commissioned in 2000 upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy. He has flown more than 4,500 flight hours, including more than 1,450 combat hours earned during Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and the initial phase of IRAQI FREEDOM.
The colonel served staff assignments at the major command and combatant command levels and has commanded at the squadron and wing level. Prior to his current assignment, the colonel served as Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Strategy, Plans, Requirements and Programs, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. In this capacity, he supported the director in overseeing force structure planning, programming, doctrine development, and the requirements divisions for the U.S. Air Force's critical airlift and air refueling capabilities.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Economics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 2005 Master of Business Administration, Touro University International, New York, N.Y. 2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 2015 Joint Maritime Operations, Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
2016 Joint Combined Warfare School-Hybrid, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA.
2018 Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2023 Latin America Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2023 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Air Force Expeditionary Center, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2025 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler School of Business, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2000 – May 2001, Scheduling Officer, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy
2. June 2001 – June 2002, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
3. July 2002 – July 2006, KC-10 Instructor Aircraft Commander, Msn Controller, 2nd Air Refueling Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J.
3. July 2006 – June 2008, KC-10 Flight Examiner Aircraft Commander, Chief of Squadron Standardizations/Evaluations, 9th ARS, Travis AFB, Calif.
4. June 2008 – October 2009, KC-10 Senior Flight Examiner Aircraft Commander, Deputy Chief Standardizations/Evaluations, 60th Operations Group, Travis AFB, Calif.
5. October 2009 – April 2010, KC-10 Instructor Pilot, Pilot Scheduler, Formal Training Unit, Travis AFB, Calif.
6. April 2010 – August 2011, C-130E/H Aircraft Commander, Asst Director of Operations, 53rd Airlift Sq, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
7. August 2011 – February 2012, Wing Executive Officer, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
8. February 2012 – August 2012, C-130E/H Aircraft Commander, Director of Staff, 53rd Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
9. August 2012 – October 2017, KC-10 Flight Examiner Aircraft Commander, Readiness Flight Commander, Assistant Chief Pilot, 70th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
10. October 2017 – September 2019, KC-10 Flight Examiner Aircraft Commander, Commander, 70th ARS, Travis AFB, Calif.
11. September 2019 – June 2021, J3 Director of Operations, 954th Reserve Support Squadron, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
12. July 2021 – May 2022, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. July 2022 – September 2023, Commander, (with temporary duty as USTC LNO to INDOPACOM), 954th RSS, JTRU, USTRANSCOM, Scott AFB, Ill.
14. September 2023 – May 2025, Commander, 403rd Wing, Keesler AFB, Miss.
15. June 2025 – February 2026, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Strategy, Plans, Requirements and Programs, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
16. February 2026 – Present, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration for Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2019 – June 2021, Director of Operations, 954th Reserve Support Squadron, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., as a lieutenant colonel
2. July 2022 – September 2023, Commander, 954th Reserve Support Squadron, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,500
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-1, KC-10A, C-130E/H/J
MAJOR DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2000
First Lieutenant May 31, 2002
Captain May 31, 2004
Major February 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel February 1, 2017
Colonel July 8, 2022
(Current as of Feb 2026)