Colonel Daniel J. Lehoski most recently served as the Commandant of the United States Air Force Weapons School (USAFWS), at Nellis AFB NV, with detachments at Dyess AFB TX, Hurlburt Field FL, Little Rock AFB AR, Whiteman AFB MO, Joint Base Lewis-McChord WA, Fairchild AFB WA, and Barksdale AFB LA. The USAFWS trains expert tactical instructors and leaders to integrate air-space-cyberspace power across all warfighting domains through graduate-level academic, flying, and operations courses in 32 aircraft and weapons systems, including: Air Battle Manager, A-10 Thunderbolt II, AC-130 Gunship, B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, CV-22 Osprey, EC-130H Compass Call, F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22A Raptor, F-35A Lightning II, Joint Terminal Attack Controller, HC-130J, HH-60 Pave Hawk, KC-135 Stratotanker, MC-130, MQ-9 Reaper, Multi-Role RPA, RC-135 Rivet Joint, RQ-4 Global Hawk, U-2, U-28, Intelligence, Space Superiority, ICBM, and Cyber Operations. Additionally, the USAFWS is the sole publisher of Air Force Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures volumes through its 561st Weapons Squadron.
Before serving at the USAFWS, Col Lehoski was the 609 AOC Deputy Commander and Deputy Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) Director at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Colonel Lehoski has served in a variety of positions including Chief Air & Space Branch for the Joint Staff (J-8), Commander of the 95th Fighter Squadron, Director of Operations for the F-22 formal training unit and Chief F-22 Weapons Instructor Course Instructor at the United States Air Force Weapons School. He received his commission from Texas A&M University in 2000. Colonel Lehoski is a Command Pilot with more than 1,700 hours in the F-15C and F-22A and has flown in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE and theater security packages worldwide.
EDUCATION:
2000 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2009 USAF F-22A Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV
2011 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Defense Intelligence Agency,
Washington, D.C.
2017 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Certificate in Social Impact Storytelling, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Feb 01 – Aug 01: Student Pilot, 20th Fighter Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
Sep 01 – Sep 02: Student Pilot, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX
Mar 03 – Sep 03: F-15C Student Pilot, F-15C Formal Training Unit, 1 FS, Tyndall AFB, FL
Oct 03 – Jul 06: Activity Security Manager, Instructor Pilot and Mission Commander, 44 FS, Kadena AB, Japan
Aug 06 – Jan 07: F-22A Student Pilot, Transition Course, 43 FS, Tyndall AFB, FL
Feb 07 – Jun 09: Flight Commander, F-22 Instructor Pilot and Mission Commander, 94 FS, Langley AFB, VA
Jul 09 – Dec 09: USAF F-22A Weapons Instructor Course Student, 433 WPS, Nellis AFB, NV
Jan 10 – Mar 11: Weapons Officer and Chief Instructor Pilot, 8 FS, Holloman AFB, NM
Apr 11 – Jul 13: Weapons School Instructor, Chief F-22 Instructor, 433 WPS, Nellis AFB, NV
Aug 13 – Jul 14: Graduate Student, National Intelligence University, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
Aug 14 – Apr 15: Director of Operations, 43rd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, FL
May 15 – May 17: Commander, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, FL
June 17 – June 18: Graduate Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
July 18 – April 20: Chief, Air & Space Branch, Joint Staff (J8) at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
May 20 – May 21: 609 AOC Deputy Commander/Deputy CAOC Director, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
June 21- June 23: Commandant, United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
July 23 – Present: Commander, 53d Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command Pilot
Flying Hours: More than 1,700 hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-15C and F-22A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant – Jan 2001
First Lieutenant – Jan 2003
Captain – Jan 2005
Major – Oct 2010
Lieutenant Colonel – Feb 2015
Colonel – Feb 2021
(Current as of July 2023)