Col Stephen "Banjo" Joca commands the 23d Fighter Group, "Flying Tigers", Moody AFB, GA. He directs the flying and support operations of the Combat Air Forces’ largest A-10 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 23d Operations Support Squadron and the 598th Range Squadron.
Col Joca entered the Air Force in May 2003 through the United States Air Force Academy. He completed pilot training in April 2004 at Columbus AFB, Ms 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.
He is a command pilot with more than 2,000 flying hours in the A-10, including 466 combat hours in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, as well as a JTAC and ALO at the Division, Brigade, and Battalion level in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Prior to his current position, Colonel Joca was the Chief of China Plans at USINDOPACOM, Camp Smith, Hi.
Col Joca is married to the former Meghan Cassidy of Calais, Maine and they have three children: Stephen, John, and Hannah.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 Masters of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus 2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2016 Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS
2017 Masters of Operational Art and Science, School of Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth, KS 2022 Masters of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA
ASSIGNMENTS
Feb 2004- Apr 2005, Student Pilot, 14th Flying Group, Columbus Air Force Base, MS
Oct 2005- Apr 2006, A-10 Student Pilot, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ Apr 2006-Feb 2008, Electronic Combat Pilot/A-10 Flight Lead, Pope AFB, NC
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, HI.
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, KS.
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, HI. Jun 2025- Present, Commander, 23d Fighter Group, Moody AFB, GA
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1.June 2022 – June 2024, Chief of East/SE Asia Plans, USINDOPACOM J5, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as a Lt Col
2.June 2024 – Present, Chief of China Plans, USINDOPACOM J5, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as a Colonel 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
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 U.S. Air Force Air Liaison Officer of the Year 2015 Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College 2022 Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Army War College EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant May 28, 2003 First Lieutenant May 28, 2005 Captain May 27, 2007 Major September 1, 2013 Lt Col April 1, 2018 Colonel June 1, 2024
(Current as of Dec 2025)