Col. Stephen Joca commands the 23rd Fighter Group "Flying Tigers" at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. He directs the flying and support operations of the Combat Air Forces’ largest A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft operational fighter group, consisting of two combat-ready A-10C Thunderbolt II squadrons, an operations support squadron, and an air force range squadron: the 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons, the 23rd Operations Support Squadron, and the 598th Range Squadron.
Col. Joca entered the Air Force in May 2003 through the U.S. Air Force Academy. He completed pilot training in April 2004 at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) qualification in September 2012. Col. Joca has held a variety of positions at the squadron, group and wing levels.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Masters of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2017 Masters of Operational Art and Science, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2022 Masters of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
ASSIGNMENTS
- Feb 2004- Apr 2005, Student Pilot, 14th Flying Group, Columbus AFB, Miss.
- Oct 2005-Apr 2006, A-10 Student Pilot, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
- Apr 2006-Feb 2008, Electronic Combat Pilot/A-10 Flight Lead, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
- Feb 2008-Apr 2011, Chief of Fixed Wing Safety/A-10C Instructor Pilot, Moody AFB, Ga.
- Apr 2011-Jan 2014, Assistant Director of Operations and Joint Terminal Attack Controller, 25th Air Support Operations Squadron, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.
- Jan 2014–Jun 2015, Assistant Director of Operations and Executive Officer, 51st Operations Group, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
- Jun 2015–Jun 2017, IDE/ASG Student, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
- Aug 2017-May 2019, Director of Operations and A-10C Flight Examiner, 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
- May 2019–May 2021, Commander and A-10C Flight Examiner, 75th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
- Jun 2021–Jun 2022, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
- Jun 2022-Jun 2025, Chief of China Plans, USINDOPACOM, Camp Smith, Hawaii.
- Jun 2025-Present, Commander, 23d Fighter Group, Moody AFB, Ga.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 2000+
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, A-10A, A-10C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Combat Action Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
(Current as of July 2025)