Col. John DeLion is the Commander at the 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. He serves as the U.S. Forces Korea Area VI Commander for over 7,000 forward-stationed and combat-ready Air Force and Army personnel. As the 8 FW Commander, Col. DeLion is responsible for plans, support and execution of military operations in support of counter-air, aerial interdiction and close-air support for 7th Air Force. The 8 FW is a primary exercise and rotational force bed-down location for U.S. air component forces, maintain active flightline operations, war reserve material and munitions at multiple contingency operations bases across the Korean Peninsula.
Col. DeLion entered the Air Force in June 2002 as a graduate from Purdue University Reserve Officer Training Corps. He is a Distinguished Graduate of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training and Squadron Officer's School. He is a graduate of the USAF Weapons Instructor Course and has flown the F- 15C in operational and weapons evaluation squadrons during assignments in Pacific Air Forces, Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, and United States Air Forces in Europe. He has participated in Baltic Air Policing. He is a graduate of National Intelligence University and Joint Advanced Warfighting School, has served on the Joint Strike Fighter Operational Test Team, and commanded the 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan, and the Pacific Air Forces Liaison officer to the Pacific Fleet, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Prior to his current position, Col. DeLion was the Commander of the 57th Operations Group, Nellis AFB, Nevada.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
2008 Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Master of Arts, Military Studies, American Military University Charles Town, W.Va
2014 Master of Science, Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Washington D.C.
2021 Master of Science, Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk, Vir.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2002 – November 2003, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. February 2004 – August 2004, Student, F-15C Initial Qualification Training, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fl.
3. September 2004 – September 2007, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Standards and Evaluations Liaison Officer, then Chief of Fighter
Current Operations 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan.
4. October 2007 – December 2009, F-15C Instructor Pilot, F-15C Program Manager, Chief, Standards and Evaluations, 83rd
Fighter Weapons Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fl.
5. January 2010 – September 2010, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Chief of Weapons, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fl.
6. October 2010 – July 2013, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, and then Chief of Wing Weapons and Tactics, 493rd Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom.
7. August 2013 – July 2014, Student, National Intelligence University, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
8. July 2014 – July 2016, Effectiveness Division Chief, Air Force Operation Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 1, Edwards
AFB, Cal.
9. July 2016 – July 2018, Chief of Wing Weapons, 18th Operations Support Squadron and Director of Operations, 44th Fighter
Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan.
10. July 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan.
11. June 2020 – July 2021 Student, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk Naval Station, Vir.
12. July 2021 – July 2023, Chief, Special Operations Branch, ECJ 35, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.
13. July 2023 – June 2024, Pacific Air Forces Liaison to Pacific Fleet, Pacific Air Forces, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Ha.
14. June 2024 – June 2026, Commander 57th Operations Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
15. June 2026 – Present, Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2021 – July 2023, Chief, Special Operations Branch, ECJ35, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, as a Lieutenant
Colonel.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 2000 hours
Aircraft flown: F-16, F-35A, F-15A-D, T-38C, T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
Major June 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2017
Colonel July 1, 2023
(Current as of June 2026)