Colonel Joshua D. Lundeby is the Deputy Commander, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 18th Wing, the largest combat wing in the U.S. Air Force, provides the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, trained and equipped tactical air superiority forces, combat search and rescue forces, command and control platforms, aeromedical evacuation capability, and global mobility resources for contingency operations. The wing flies the F-15C, KC-135R, HH-60 and E-3 aircraft. Additionally, the wing provides the 5th Air Force commander a responsive staging and operational air base with integrated, deployable, forward-based airpower.
Colonel Lundeby commissioned in 2003 after graduating from Central Washington University where he majored in Physics and was named class “Distinguished Graduate.” Colonel Lundeby has an expert background in mobility operations with qualifications in two major weapons systems – the KC-135R/T and C-17A. He served in a variety of command and staff positions, including Joint Staff J4 Distribution Division Chief, Commander of the 100th Operations Support Squadron, Senior Executive Officer to the Air Mobility Commander, and Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Air Force. Colonel Lundeby also served as an evaluator pilot in the Special Operations Low Level II program and the C-17A Formal Training Unit, and is a graduate of the United States Air Force Weapons School. He flew more than 280 combat missions in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, logging more than 740 combat hours. Colonel Lundeby is a Command Pilot with over 3,100 flight hours in the T-37B, T-1A, C-17A, and KC-135R/T.
EDUCATION
2003 Distinguished Graduate, Bachelor’s Degree in Physics, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
2007 Master of Business Administration, Touro University International, Cypress, CA
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2015 Strategic Policy Fellowship, Washington D.C.
2021 Distinguished Graduate, Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 2003 – January 2005, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Distinguished Graduate, Vance AFB, Oklahoma
2. June 2005 – June 2007, Training Officer, Awards and Decorations Officer, and C-17A Aircraft Commander, 17th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, South Carolina
3. June 2007 – February 2010, Assistant Flight Commander, Chief of Squadron Special Operations, Special Operations Plans, and C-17A Instructor Pilot, 437th Operations Group Staff, Charleston AFB, South Carolina
4. February 2010 – January 2011, Flight Commander, and C-17A Evaluator Pilot, 17th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, South Carolina
5. January 2011 – June 2011, Student, United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada
6. August 2011 – June 2012, Chief of Tactics and C-17A Flying Training Unit Instructor Pilot, 58th Airlift Squadron, Altus AFB, Oklahoma
7. June 2012 – April 2013, Flight Commander, Wing Weapons/Tactics, and C-17A Flying Training Unit Evaluator Pilot, 97th Operations Support Squadron, Altus AFB, Oklahoma
8. April 2013 – June 2014, Chief Wing Executive Officer and C-17A Flying Training Unit Evaluator Pilot, 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus AFB, Oklahoma
9. July 2014 – June 2015, Student, Air Force Fellow, Strategic Policy Fellowship – Office of International Transportation and Trade, United States Department of Transportation and SECAF/CSAF Executive Action Group, Headquarters Air Force, Washington D.C.
10. June 2015 – August 2016, Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
11. August 2016 – May 2017, Chief of Safety, 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
12. May 2017 – May 2019, Commander, 100th Operations Support Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
13. May 2019 – July 2020, Senior Executive Officer to the Air Mobility Commander, Scott AFB, IL
14. July 2020 – June 2021, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Distinguished Graduate, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
15. June 2021 – June 2023, Chief, Distribution Division, The Joint Staff, Directorate for Logistics (J4), Pentagon, Washington D.C.
16. June 2023 – Present, Deputy Commander, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2021 – June 2023, Chief, Distribution Division, The Joint Staff, Directorate for Logistics (J4), Pentagon, Washington D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Action Ribbon
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jun 25, 2003
First Lieutenant Jun 25, 2005
Captain Jun 25, 2007
Major Nov 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel Dec 1, 2016
Colonel Mar 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2023)