Colonel Geoffrey I. Church is the Deputy Commander, Seventh Air Force, Air Forces Korea, and Chief of Staff, Combined Air Component Command, Osan Air Base, South Korea. In these roles, he supports the Seventh Air Force mission to organize, train, and equip warfighting forces supporting the Combined Air Component Command assigned to the Combined Forces Command. Additionally, he oversees vital missions that support United Nations Command armistice maintenance across the Republic of Korea.
Colonel Church received his commission in December 1998 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Kentucky. A career officer of broad experience, he has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. His staff experience spans across the Joint, Combatant Command, Headquarters Air Force, and Major Command levels.
Colonel Church is a command pilot with over 1,900 hours in the T-38, F-15C/D, F-22, RQ-4, MQ-9, and TU-2S aircraft. Prior to his current position, he served as the Director, Commander’s Action Group for NORAD and USNORTHCOM.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
2005 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada.
2011 Distinguished graduate, Master of Military Operational Art and Science, ACSC, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
2017 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1999 – January 2001, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Oklahoma
2. February 2001 – August 2001, Student, F-15C Replacement Training Unit, Tyndall AFB, Florida
3. August 2001 – April 2004, Instructor Pilot, 60th Fighter Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida
4. May 2004 – May 2005, Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, 493d Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
5. June 2005 – December 2005, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada
6. January 2006 – August 2008, Chief, F-22 Weapons and Tactics, 1st Operational Support Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia
September 2008 – June 2010, Chief, F-22 Tactics Development and Avionics Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
7. July 2010 – July 2011, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
8. August 2011 – April 2014, Assistant Director of Operations, 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES); F-22 Test Director, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 6; and Director of Operations, 5th Generation Fighters, 422d TES, Nellis AFB, Nevada
9. May 2014 – May 2016, Commander, 12th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, California
10. August 2016 – June 2017, Student, National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington D.C.
11. June 2017 – June 2020, Executive Officer to the Director for Operations, Joint Staff J3; and Secretary of War Orders Book Briefer, Joint Staff J35, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
12. July 2020 – June 2021, Vice Commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, and Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Group, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
13. July 2021 – May 2022, Division Chief, Operations Division, F-35 Integration Office, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
14. June 2022 – July 2024, Commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, California
August 2024 – June 2026, Director, Commander’s Action Group, NORAD and USNORTHCOM, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado
15. July 2026 – present, Deputy Commander, Seventh Air Force, and Chief of Staff, Combined Air Component Command, Osan Air Base, South Korea
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 1,900
Aircraft flown: T-38, F-15C/D, F-22, TU-2S, RQ-4, MQ-9
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with C-Device and one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant January 18, 1999
First Lieutenant January 18, 2001
Captain January 18, 2003
Major September 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2013
Colonel December 1, 2019
(Current as of July 2026)