Col Joshua O. Arki is the 48th Operations Group Commander, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath. He is responsible for all flight operations for RAF Lakenheath-assigned aircraft, including two F-15E squadrons, two F-35A squadrons, and an operations support squadron.
Col Arki entered the Air Force in 2004 after receiving his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Following graduation, he attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB followed by F-16 training at Luke AFB. In 2014 he was competitively selected to transition to the F-35A. Col Arki is a command pilot with more than 2,300 flying hours including more than 400 combat hours in the F-16C and F-35A in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve. In 2019 he commanded the first-ever F-35A fighter squadron combat deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and the Resolute Support Mission. Prior to his current position, Col Arki was the Air, Space, and Nuclear Policy Advisor, U.S. Military Delegation to the NATO Military Committee, NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2012 Masters of Business Administration, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Masters of Science in National Security and Strategic Studies (JPME I), United States Naval War College, R.I.
2022 National Defense Fellowship, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Medford, Mass.
2023 Joint and Combined Warfighting School (JPME II), Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2004 - June 2005, Squadron Programmer, 25th Flying Training Squadron, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. June 2005 - August 2006, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
3. August 2006 - August 2007, Student, F-16 Fighter Training Unit, 309th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. August 2007 - July 2009, F-16 Pilot, Assistant Chief of Training and Assistant Chief of Weapons, 55th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
5. July 2009 - May 2010, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 55th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. May 2010 - December 2011, F-16 Flight Examiner, Flight Commander and Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, Korea.
7. January 2012 - June 2012, Student, F-16 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. June 2012 - January 2014, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
9. January 2014 - April 2015, F-35A Instructor Pilot, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
10. April 2015 - July 2016, F-35A Instructor Pilot, Chief of Wing Weapons and Tactics, 56th Operations Support Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
11. July 2016 - October 2017, Student, United States Naval War College, Newport. R.I.
12. October 2017 - May 2019, F-35A Flight Examiner, Assistant Director of Operations and Director of Operations, 4th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
13. May 2019 - July 2021, Commander, 4th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
14. July 2021 - July 2022, National Defense Fellow, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Medford, Mass.
15. July 2022 - Present, Air, Space, and Nuclear Policy Advisor, U.S. Military Delegation to the NATO Military Committee, NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2022 – June 2024, Air, Space, and Nuclear Policy Advisor, U.S. Military Delegation to the NATO Military Committee, NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium, as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,300
Aircraft Flown: T-6A, T-38C, AT-38C, F-16C/D, F-35A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2006
Captain June 2, 2008
Major June 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2017
Colonel June 1, 2023
(Current as of May 2024)