Biography

United States Air Force

Colonel Van T. Thai

Colonel Thai is the Deputy Commander, 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The 618 AOC (TACC) is responsible for operational planning, scheduling, directing, and assessing a fleet of approximately 1,100 aircraft, executing the air mobility mission, and providing command and control of strategic airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, global air mobility support, and presidential and senior leader air transport in support of national interests.

Col. Thai earned his commission in 1998 from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Col. Thai has served in various KC-135 and C-12 leadership roles to include commanding at the Squadron, Group, and Wing levels. In addition, he commanded the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Udeid, Qatar, the Air Force's largest combat flying squadron. Furthermore, he is an INDOPACOM Foreign Area Officer.

Col. Thai is a command pilot with more than 2,700 flight hours in the KC-135 R/T, C-12 F/J, E- 3 B/C, E-8, HH60, T-1A, and T-37B.

Operational Experience: ATLAS GUARDIAN, ALLIES REFUGE & WELCOME, ATLANTIC RESOLVE, JUNIPER MICRON, INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM SENTINEL, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM (MIDDLE EAST & PHILIPPINES), NOBLE EAGLE.

EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, minor in French, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1998 Air Force Institute of Technology National Security and Language Program (French), University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (Non-degree Program)
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (#1 Sq Grad, Top 3rd Grad, Top 3rd Flt)
2005 Asia Pacific Center for Securities Studies Junior Executive Course, Fort DeRussy, Hawaii
2006 Master of Arts degree in Economics, University of Oklahoma, Norman
2007 Marine Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University, Quantico, Va., by correspondence
2008 Master of Science degree in International Relations, Troy University, Montgomery, Ala.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Associates of Arts degree in Japanese Studies, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, Calif.
2012 Japan Air Command and Staff College, Meguro Base, Tokyo, Japan
2012 USAID Joint Humanitarian Course
2014 AMC Squadron Commander Leadership Course, Scott AFB, O’Fallon, Ill.
2015 DoD FAO Phase II PACOM Seminar, Naval Post Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan
2016 DoD FAO Phase II PACOM Seminar, George Washington University, Elliot School of International Relations, Seoul, South Korea
2016 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2018 French War College - Ecole de Guerre, Ecole Militaire, Paris, France
2018 DoD FAO Phase II PACOM Seminar, George Washington University, Elliot School of International Relations, Honolulu, Hawaii
2018 DoD FAO Phase II AFRICOM Seminar, George Washington University, Elliot School of International Relations, Brussels, Belguim
2018 Advance Security Cooperation Course, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Fort DeRussy, Hawaii
2018 Asia-Pacific Orientation Course, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Fort DeRussy, Hawaii
2019 Comprehensive Crisis Management Course, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Fort DeRussy, Hawaii
2020 Group Commander Leadership Course, Eaker Center, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Ala.
2022 Middle East and South Asia Regional Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
2023 Joint Task Force Staff Basic Course, LeMay Center, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Ala.
2024 Wing/Deputy Wing Commander Leadership Course, Eaker Center, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Ala.
2024 Air Force Reserve Wing and Group Commander Leadership Course, AFRC A1, Robins AFB, Macon, Ga.
2024 Mobility Commander Tactics Course, Advance Airlift Tactics Training Center, Rosencrans MAD,St. Joseph, Mo.
2024 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Air Force Expeditionary Center, Hulburt Field, Fl.
 
ASSIGNMENTS
  1. August 1998 - December 1998, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology National Security and Language Program (French), University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  2. January 1999 – February 2000, Student, undergraduate pilot training, Vance AFB, Okla.
  3. April 2000 – July 2000, Student, KC-135 initial qualification, Altus AFB, Okla.
  4. July 2000 – December 2003, Aircraft Commander, Aircrew Scheduler, and Standardization & Evaluation Liaison Officer, 909th Air Refueling Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
  5. January 2004 – February 2004, C-12J initial qualification, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
  6. February 2004 – February 2005, C-12 Pilot and Chief Aircrew Scheduler, 55th Airlift Flight, Osan AB, South Korea
  7. March 2005 – April 2008, KC-135 Instructor Pilot, Chief of Tanker Current Operations, and Chief of Short Range Mission Scheduling, 18th Operations Support Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
  8. April 2008 – May 2009, Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commander for Civil-Military Activities, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany
  9. May 2009 – February 2010, Branch Chief, International Engagements, J5, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany
  10. February 2010 – February 2011, Student, Japanese Studies, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, Calif.
  11. March 2011 – April 2012, Student, Japan Air Command and Staff College, Meguro Base, Tokyo, Japan
  12. May 2012 – October 2012, Deputy Director for Plans, Policy and Strategy, 5th Air Force, Yokota AB, Japan
  13. October 2012 – June 2013, Division Chief, Policy, Engagements, and Strategy, 5th Air Force, Yokota AB, Japan (reorganization after the deactivation of 13th Air Force)
  14. July 2013 – May 2014, Director of Operations, 909 Air Refueling Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
  15. May 2014 – May 2015, Commander, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
  16. June 2015 – June 2016, Deputy Commander, 18th Operations Group, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
  17. June 2016 – June 2018, Training & Transition period and Student, French War College, Ecole Militaire, Paris, France.
  18. July 2018 – July 2019, Military Professor/Operations Officer, Daniel K. Inoue Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Fort DeRussy, Hawaii
  19. July 2019 – May 2020, Military Professor, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
  20. June 2020 – June 2022, Commander, 100th Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
  21. June 2022 – April 2023, Director of Operations and Plans, 5th Air Force, Yokota AB, Japan
  22. April 2023 – January 2024, Director of Operations and Exercises, 5th Air Force, Yokota AB, Japan
  23. January 2024 – June 2025, Commander, 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom ARB, IN
  24. June 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander 618 Air Operation Center, Scott AFB, IL
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
  1. April 2008 – May 2009, Aide-de-Camp to Deputy Commander for Civil-Military Activities, HQ Staff, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany, as a major
  2. May 2009 – February 2010, Branch Chief, International Engagements, J5, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany, as a Major
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
 
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Pacific Air Force Airlift Tanker Association Young Leadership Award
2003 Southeast Asian Foreign Area Officer (FAO) Rating
2006 18th Wing Top Tanker Crew
2007 1 of 10 Department of Defense-Wide Outstanding Americans by Choice
2011 Northeast Asian Foreign Area Officer (FAO) Rating
2013 Pacific Air Force Language Capable Airmen of the Year
2023 Japan Cooperation Medal presented by Japan Air Self Defense Force Chief of Staff
 

(Current as of July 2025)