Lt Col Kaoru Elliott is Deputy Commander at Space Forces - Japan, Yokota Air Base, Japan. He is responsible for delivering space component expertise to United States Forces Japan, integrating with sister component services, coordinating space capabilities and effects, and furthering interoperability with allies and partners.
Lt Col Elliott earned his commission through Air Force ROTC at the University of Arizona in May 2010. He transferred into the United States Space Force in October 2020. He has over 16 years of service across a diverse set of mission and functional areas. He has been assigned to New Mexico, Alabama, California, Colorado, Virginia, and Japan. He has experience as a Developmental Engineer working Live, Virtual, and Constructive Modeling and Simulation at the Distributed Mission Operations Center and a Technical Director of Air Combat Command’s VIRTUAL FLAG. He taught as an instructor and Course Director at the USAF Officer Training School, commissioning 104 new second lieutenants into the United States Air Force.
He served as a Space Operator for the Global Positioning System, fulfilling roles on the operations crew as a Satellite Vehicle Operator and on the squadron staff as Flight Commander and Assistant Director of Operations. Lt Col Elliott was the first Chief of the Indo-Pacific Regional Branch, Global Partnerships Directorate, at Headquarters U.S. Space Force. Prior to his current position, he was the Director of Strategy, Plans, and Resources for Space Forces – Japan as part of the initial staff of Space Forces – Japan (Provisional).
During his time at Officer Training School, Lt Col Elliott earned Air Education Training Command’s Master Instructor qualification. He completed his Foreign Area Officer certification program after completing his Master’s Degree in Security Studies with a concentration in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific and his In-Region Training in Japan. He has been a member of the Language Enabled Airmen Program since 2010, with a language proficiency in Japanese.
EDUCATION
2010 Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson
2010 Fundamentals of Acquisition Management, Kettering, Ohio
2011 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2014 Academic Instructor Course, Holm Center, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Master of Science, Information Technology – Digital Forensics, American Military University, Charlestown, W.Va.
2016 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Space 200, National Security Space Institute, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2021 Master of Arts, Security Studies – East Asia and the Indo-Pacific, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2022 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2022 Foreign Area Officer Fellowship, by correspondence
2023 Commander of Space Forces Course, Peterson SFB, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2010 – January 2012, Program Manager, 705th Combat Training Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
- January 2012 – January 2013, Executive Officer, 705th Combat Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- January 2013 – June 2013, Program Manager, 705th Combat Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- June 2013 – June 2014, Assistant Flight Commander, 705th Combat Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- June 2014 – December 2015, Flight Commander/Instructor, 24th Training Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- December 2015 – July 2017, Assistant Director of Operations/Course Director, 24th Training Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- July 2017 – October 2017, Student, Officer Undergraduate Space Training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
- November 2017 – April 2018, Student, Satellite Vehicle Operator Initial Qualifications Training, Schriever AFB, Colo.
- April 2018 – January 2019, Satellite Vehicle Operator, 2d Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
- February 2019 – May 2019, Modernization Flight Commander, 2d Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
- May 2019 – June 2020, Assistant Director of Operations, 2d Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo
- June 2020 – October 2021, FAO Fellowship, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif
- November 2021 – November 2023, Chief, INDOPACOM Regional Branch, Global Partnerships Directorate, Headquarters U.S. Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
- November 2023 – July 2024, Chief, International Engagements, Space Forces - Japan (Provisional), Space Forces Indo-Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan.
- July 2024 – December 2024, Director, Strategy, Plans, Programming, and Budgeting, Space Forces - Japan (Provisional), Space Forces Indo-Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan.
- December 2024 – March 2025, Director, Strategy, Plans, Programming, and Budgeting, Space Forces - Japan, Space Forces Indo-Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan.
- March 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, Space Forces – Japan, Space Forces Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2016 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2017 Air Education Training Command Master Instructor
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
Senior Space Operations Badge
Basic Acquisition and Financial Management Badge
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 15, 2010
First Lieutenant Jun 10, 2012
Captain Jun 10, 2014
Major Apr 1, 2020
Lieutenant Colonel Jan 1, 2025
(Current as of July 2026)