Col. Joshua D. Jensen is the Commander, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. He is responsible for conducting pilot training for the United States Air Force and partner nations. The Wing is composed of 185 aircraft flying more than 40,000 sorties and 55,000 hours while training over 400 pilots and combat systems officers annually. He is responsible for day-to-day operations of base support functions and mission activities for the wings 3,000 military, civilian, and contract Airmen. Colonel Jensen also manages an operations and maintenance budget of approximately $131 million and capital assets exceeding $2.3 billion.
Col. Jensen graduated from Creighton University and commissioned through OTS in 2004. He has commanded at the Squadron and Expeditionary Special Operations Group level and served in a variety of squadron, group, wing, and joint positions. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Commander, 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.
Col. Jensen is a senior pilot with over 3,100 hours in the C-146A, Q-200 and MC-130P/J aircraft. His deployed experience includes Expeditionary Special Operations Group commander duties, Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron commander duties, and numerous combat and combat support missions in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM-TRANS SAHARA, and ENDURING FREEDOM-PHILIPPINES.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Biology, Creighton University, NE
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2012 Masters, Business Administration and Management, California Coast University, CA
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2016 Air Command and Staff College, Residence
2016 Masters, Military Operational Arts and Sciences, Air Command and Staff College, Air University
2022 College of Naval Warfare, Residence
2022 Masters, National Security and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2004 – October 2005, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 2006 – June 2006, Student, C-130 Training, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
3. July 2006 – November 2006, Student, MC-130 Training, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
4. December 2006 – December 2008, MC-130P Navigator, Squadron Executive Officer, 67th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK
5. December 2008 – January 2010, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
6. January 2010 – June 2011, Q-200 Pilot, Mobility Officer, 524th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
7. June 2011 – December 2012, C-146A Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 524th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
8. December 2012 – January 2014, C-146A Evaluator Pilot, Chief Group Executive Officer, 27th Special Operations Group, Cannon AFB, NM
9. January 2014 – August 2015, C-146A Evaluator Pilot, Assistant Operations Officer, 524th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
10. August 2015 – June 2016, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
11. June 2016 – July 2018, J35 Air Officer, Special Operations Command South, Homestead ARB, FL
12. July 2018 – December 2018, Chief of Wing Safety, 492d Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, FL
13. December 2018 – June 2020, Operations Officer, 524th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, FL
14. June 2020 – June 2021, Commander, 524th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, FL
15. June 2021 – June 2022, Student, Naval War College, Newport, RI
16. June 2022 – July 2023, Executive Officer to Deputy Commander, HQ Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
17. July 2023 – May 2024, Director of Staff, HQ Air Education and Training Command, Directorate of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
18. May 2024 – Feb 2025, Division Chief, Force Structure Division, HQ Air Education and Training Command, Directorate of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
19. Feb 2025 – July 2025, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
20. July 2025 – July 2026, Deputy Commander, 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, NM
21. July 2026 - Present, Commander, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, MS
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jun 2016 – Jul 2018, J35 Air Officer, Special Operations Command South, Homestead ARB, FL as a major
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight hours: Over 3,100
Aircraft flown: T-43, T-6, T-38C, C-130E/H, MC-130P/J, Q-200, C-146A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters Joint Service Achievement Medal
Brigadier General Ross G. Hoyt Award, 2007
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September 30, 2004
First Lieutenant September 1, 2006
Captain September 1, 2008
Major March 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2018
Colonel April 1, 2024
(Current as of July 2026)