Col. Paul I. Koecher is the commander of the 28th Mission Support Group, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. He leads a group of six squadrons with nearly 2,000 military, civilian, and contractor professionals in planning, organizing, and implementing installation security and services across the support continuum from contracting, communications, and engineering to logistics and personnel for the combat mission assurance to power the largest operational B-1 wing in the U.S. Air Force -- serving over 8,500 personnel and their families. He is also responsible for coordinating with key mission partners in the surrounding community and serves as an associate school board member representing military families with school-aged children as part of the Air Force School Liaison Program. Prior to taking command, Col. Koecher served as the Chief of the Weather Strategic Plans and Integration Division at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
Col. Koecher received his commission as a Weather Officer through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of North Dakota in 2002. He has served in a variety of weather and non-weather roles, including Deputy Chief of the Weather Operations Division at Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Commander of the 23nd Special Operations Weather Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida, and Operations Officer for the 75th Operations Support Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
Col. Koecher has deployed multiple times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, including to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, where he was the Operations Officer for the 19th Expeditionary Weather Squadron, responsible for 52 Airmen providing weather support to 15 U.S. Army Task Forces across four Regional Commands.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science in Geography, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D.
2002 Weather Officer Course, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2003 Aerospace Basic Course (ASBC), Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 New-Tactical Forecasting System School, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2006 Combat Weather Team Officer Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2007 Squadron Officer School (non-resident program), Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Air Force Weather Radar Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2008 Squadron Officer School (in-residence), Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air & Space Operations Center Initial Qualification Training, Combat Operations Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2011 Master of Aerospace Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2012 Battlefield Weather Mission Qualification Training, Camp Blanding, Fla.
2012 Evasion and Conduct After Capture (ECAC), Lackland AFB, Texas
2016 Master of Military Operational Art & Science, Air Command & Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Air War College (non-resident program), Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 USAF Emergency Operations Center Director Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2002-October 2002, Student, Weather Officer Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2. October 2002-October 2004, Theater Weather Officer, 11th Operational Weather Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
3. October 2004-October 2005, Lead Meteorologist, 11th Operational Weather Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
4. November 2005-March 2009, Weather Operations Flight Commander, Vance AFB, Okla.
5. April 2009-October 2009, Assistant Operations Officer, Vance AFB, Okla.
6. October 2009-November 2009, Student, Air Operations Center Initial Qualification Training Course, Hurlburt AFB, Fla.
7. November 2009-April 2010, Deputy Chief, 613th AOC Weather Specialty Team, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
8. May 2010-April 2011, Executive Officer to the Commander/Chief, Weather Specialty Team, 613th Air and Space Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
9. May 2011-November 2012, Assistant Director of Operations, 17th OWS, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
10. December 2012-July 2015, Commander, Detachment 2, 7th Weather Squadron, USAG Grafenwoehr, Germany
11. July 2015-June 2016, Student, Air Command & Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. June 2016-June 2017, Director of Operations, 75th Operations Support Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
13. June 2017-June2019, Commander, 23rd Special Operations Weather Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
14. July 2019-June 2021, Deputy Chief, Weather Operations Division, HQ ACC, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
15. June 2021-July 2023 Deputy Commander, 28th Mission Support Group, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
16. July 2023-August 2024, Chief, Weather Strategic Plans & Integration Division, HQ USAF, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. August 2024-Present, Commander, 28th Mission Support Group, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
Air Force Elementary Excellence in Competition Pistol Badge
Air Force Elementary Excellence in Competition Rifle Badge
OTHER ACHIEVMENTS
2006 Top Graduate & Distinguished Graduate, Combat Weather Team Officer Course
2007 Distinguished Graduate, Weather Radar Course
2007 71st Operations Group CGO of the Year
2007 AETC Outstanding Weather CGO of the Year
2014 USAFE Battlefield Weather FGO of the Year
DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant June 28, 2002
First Lieutenant June 28, 2004
Captain June 8, 2006
Major Aug. 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2017
Colonel Sept. 1, 2023
(Current as of August 2024)