Colonel Joshua M. Pope currently serves as Commander, 7th Maintenance Group, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. As Commander, he is directly responsible for the morale, welfare, and well-being of 1,500 Airmen and their families across four squadrons. Additionally, he directs all production, flightline, and backshop maintenance supporting 23 B-1B aircraft and five operational squadrons. Additionally, he provides backshop maintenance support to 28 C-130J aircraft in two squadrons assigned to the 317th Airlift Wing.
Colonel Pope has served as a Flight Commander and Operations Officer in various maintenance and operational squadrons. Additionally, he has served as a Professional Military Education Instructor, Course Director, and Executive Officer. He has also served as a Squadron Commander, Deputy Group Commander, and, most recently, as Chief, Combat Aircraft Division, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command. He has deployed supporting contingency operations as an Academic Program Manager, Operations Officer, and Squadron Commander. He joined the Air Force after receiving his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Saint Louis University.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO
2000 Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, TX
2001 Aerospace Base Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2005 Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, MO
2005 Maintenance Officer Intermediate Course, Sheppard AFB, TX
2010 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2012 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2016 Air War College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2020 Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, RI
2022 Professional Maintenance Certification - Level 2
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2000 - February 2003: Armament Flight Commander and Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight Commander, 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron; Sortie Support Flight Commander, 28th Bomb Squadron; Assistant Maintenance Supervisor, 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX
2. February 2003 - January 2005: 354th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Assistant Officer in Charge, 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; Assistant Maintenance Operations Officer, 355th Maintenance Operations Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
3. January 2005 - May 2007: Flight Commander and Senior Flight Commander, 30th Student Squadron; Director of Operations, SOS Curriculum, Directorate of Education and Curriculum, Squadron Officer College, Maxwell AFB, AL
4. May 2007 - May 2008: Executive Officer, Squadron Officer College, Maxwell AFB, AL
5. June 2008 - December 2008: Advisor/Instructor, Iraqi Air Force Academy; Assistant Director of Operations; and Chief, Curriculum Development, 370th/821st Expeditionary Training Squadron, Al Taji and Ar Rustamiyah, Iraq
6. December 2008 - July 2011: Maintenance Operations Officer, 319th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, ND; Maintenance Operations Officer, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
7. August 2011 - June 2012: Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
8. July 2012 - July 2014: Commander, 432d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron/432d Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Creech AFB, NV
9. July 2014 - May 2016: Commander, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD
10. June 2016 - June 2017: Commander, 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
11. July 2017 - June 2019: Deputy Commander, 3rd Maintenance Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
12. July 2019 - June 2020: Student, Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, RI
13. June 2020 - June 2021: Director, Maintenance Group Commander Course and Senior Leader Mission Generation Course, Ira C. Eaker School for Leadership Development, Maxwell AFB, AL
14. June 2021 - April 2022: Chief, Combat Aircraft Division, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, LA
15. May 2022 - Present: Commander, 7th Maintenance Group, Dyess AFB, TX
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE EXPERIENCE
B-1B, C-130E/H/J, A/OA-10A/C, KC-135R/T, C-17A, MQ-1B, MQ-9A, RQ-170, B-52H, RC-135J, E-8C, C-12, E-3C, F-22
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal with device
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with five oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon with device
Air and Space Training Ribbon
NATO Medal (Non-Article 5)
AETC Educator of the Year
Air University Foundation’s Strategic Air Command Faculty Excellence Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant January 7, 2000
First Lieutenant January 27, 2002
Captain January 27, 2004
Major October 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2015
Colonel August 1, 2021
(Current as of September 2023)