Colonel David Och is an Assistant Professor at the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC. Prior to this assignment, he deployed for a year to serve as the Director of Intelligence, Operations, Plans, and Programs for the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, United States Air Forces Central, in support of Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and SPARTAN SHIELD. Prior to his deployment, he served as a Senior Plans Advisor to the Secretary of Defense in the Office of the Under Secretary for Defense for Policy, where his portfolio included United States Indo-Pacific Command and United States Strategic Command plans.
Colonel Och commanded the 389th Fighter Squadron where he oversaw all aspects of operations and maintenance in a 21-jet F-15E squadron. A Command Pilot with more than 2,750 hours in the F-15E, Colonel Och has flown more than 800 combat hours in Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE. In addition to his operational flying assignments, he served as both a Formal Training Unit and Operational Test and Evaluation instructor pilot.
EDUCATION 2000 Bachelor of Science in Management, United States Air Force Academy 2001 Master of Business Administration, University of Pittsburgh 2011 Air Command and Staff College, in residence equivalent, Air University 2015 School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University 2020 National War College, National Defense University
ASSIGNMENTS 1. June 2000-June 2001, Graduate Student, AF Institute of Technology, University of Pittsburgh, PA 2. June 2001-July 2002, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 87 FTS, Laughlin AFB, TX 3. November 2002-September 2003, F-15E student pilot, 333d FS, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC 4. September 2003 -June2006, Training Officer, 335 FS, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC 5. June 2006-November 2006, F-15E Instructor Course Pilot, 334 FS, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC 6. November 2006-November 2008, Evaluator Pilot, Flight Commander, 334 FS, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC 7. November 2008-January 2012, F-15E Project Officer, Assistant Director of Operations, 86 FWS, Eglin AFB, FL 8. January 2012-June 2014, F-15E Evaluator Pilot, Assistant Director of Operations, 334 FS, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC 9. June 2014-July 2015, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL 10.July 2015-September 2015, Assistant Director of Operations, 389 FS, Mountain Home AFB, ID 11. September 2015-May 2017, Director of Operations, 389 FS, Mountain Home AFB, ID 12. May 2017-June 2019, Commander, 389th Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, ID 13. June 2019 - June 2020, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, D.C. 14. June 2020 -May 2022, Senior Plans Advisor to the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA 15. May 2022 -June 2023, Director of Intelligence, Operations, Plans and Programs, 332 AEW, Undisclosed Location, US Air Forces Central 16. July 2023-Present, Assistant Professor, National Defense University Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command Pilot Flight Hours: More than 3,000 hours, including over 800 combat hours Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38A/C, F-15E, F-15K
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal (four oak leaf clusters) Air Medal (five oak leaf clusters) Air Force Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster) Air Force Achievement Medal (one oak leaf cluster) Combat Readiness Medal National Defense Service Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon