Colonel Joshua Hawkins is the Commander, 8th Mission Support Group, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. As the Group Commander, he is responsible for the leadership and management of five diverse squadrons that provide base communications, engineering, security, law enforcement, transportation, supply, personnel support, logistics readiness, education, food services, housing and recreation activities to over 2,700 active duty Airmen and Soldiers.
Col. Hawkins earned his commission in 2003 as a Distinguished Graduate of AFROTC Detachment 845. He has served in various leadership roles within Services and Force Support squadrons, as well as on the Air Force and Joint staffs across multiple commands within the U.S., Indo-Pacific, European, and Central theaters. He commanded the 673d Force Support Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, where the unit earned the Air Force's General Curtis E. LeMay Award as the "Best Large Force Support Squadron." His staff experiences include two tours with the Headquarters Air Staff, Third Air Force, NATO's International Security Assistance Force and Resolute Support in Kabul, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, and the Air Force's Personnel Center.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Movement Science, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth
2003 Air and Space Basic Course, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2008 Top-third graduate, Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Master of Business Administration with Organizational Dynamics concentration, GW School of Business, The George Washington University, Washington D.C.
2016 Army Command and General Staff College, Army University, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2021 Master of Science in National Resource Strategy with Data Analytics concentration, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
2021 Distinguished graduate, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
2023 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2023 Machine Learning Executive Education Course, MIT Sloan School of Business, Cambridge, Mass
2024 Leading Strategically Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2003 - May 2004, Resource Management Officer, 31st Services Squadron, Aviano Air Base (AB), Italy
(May 2004 - September 2004, Deputy Commander, 376th Expeditionary Services Squadron, Central Air Forces/Southwest Asia)
2. September 2004 - March 2005, Food Service Officer, 31st Services Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
3. March 2005 - April 2006, Flight Commander, Resources & Training, United States Air Force Honor Guard, Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.
4. April 2006 - May 2008, Commander, Air Force Drill Team, United States Air Force Honor Guard, Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.
5. June 2008 - June 2009, Chief, Colonel Force Management & Development, Air Force Colonel Management Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel & Services, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
6. June 2009 - October 2010, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, Headquarters 3d Air Force, Ramstein AB, Germany
7. November 2010 - December 2012, Thunderbird #10/Executive Officer, US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds", Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. December 2012 - May 2014, Operations Officer, 6th Force Support Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
9. May 2014 - May 2015, Deputy Director, Joint Visitors Bureau, Headquarters NATO International Security Assistance Force/Resolute Support, & Headquarters U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan
10. June 2015 - June 2016, Student, U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
11. June 2016 - July 2018, Commander, 673d Force Support Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
12. August 2018 - July 2020, Chief, Air Force Military Evaluations, Promotions, and Recognitions Operations, Headquarters, Air Force Personnel Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
13. July 2020 - June 2021, Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
14. July 2021 - March 2022, Deputy Director, Air Force Talent Management Innovation Cell, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel & Services, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
15. March 2022 - August 2022, Director, Air Force Talent Management Innovation Cell, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel & Services, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
16. August 2022 - December 2023, Chief, Air Force Military Force Policy Division, Directorate of Military Force Management Policy, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel & Services, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
17. January 2024 – June 2024, Acting Deputy, Directorate of Military Force Management Policy, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel & Services, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
18. June 2024 – Present, Commander, 8th Mission Support Group, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
May 2014 - May 2015, Deputy Director, Joint Visitors Bureau, Headquarters NATO International Security Assistance Force/Resolute Support, & Headquarters U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan, as a major
MAJOR DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
NATO Meritorious Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2014, Air Force’s Personnel Field Grade Officer of the Year, U.S. Air Force (AF Level)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) credential, Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI)
(Current as of May 2024)