Col. Johnathan Eccles is the Deputy Commander, 81st Training Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. As the Deputy Commander, he advises and assists the commander responsible for the technical training of over 27,000 military and civilian personnel across 38 skillsets in support of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, Department of Defense agencies, and international partners. In addition, he provides direct support to maintain installation readiness for over 12,000 permanent party Airmen, $4.7 billion in real property, and airfield operations supporting 20 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and the Department of Defense’s only aerial weather reconnaissance mission, “Hurricane Hunters.”
Col. Eccles entered the Air Force in 2002 through the United States Air Force Academy. He previously commanded at the squadron level and has served in multiple roles leading air operations across the squadron, group, wing, and component command echelons. Col. Eccles is a command pilot with over 4,200 hours. He has flown over 1,900 combat hours and 530 combat missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Inherent Resolve, including multiple worldwide special operations and sensitive reconnaissance operations missions.
Prior to his current assignment, Col. Eccles served as the Executive Assistant to the Commander of Pacific Air Forces, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO
2003 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2007 Master of Business Administration, Touro University, CA
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2010 Master of Science, International Relations, Troy University, AL
2012 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2017 Air War College, by correspondence
2022 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2022 Master of Strategic Studies, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2002 – March 2003, Pilot Trainee, Nellis AFB, NV
2. April 2003 – September 2004, Student Pilot, Laughlin AFB, TX
3. October 2004 – July 2006, C-5A/B Pilot / Executive Officer, Dover AFB, DE
4. August 2006 – July 2012, C-17A Special Operations IP, Assistant Director of Operations, JB Charleston, SC
5. September 2012 – October 2013, Assistant Director of Operations / MC-12W Mission Pilot, Beale AFB, CA
6. November 2013 – August 2014, T-38A / U-2S Student Pilot, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
7. August 2014 – August 2015, U-2 Instructor Pilot / Director of Combat Operations, Beale AFB, CA
8. April 2016 – August 2016, U-2 Evaluator Pilot / Director of Operations, Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE
9. August 2016 – June 2017, U-2 Evaluator Pilot / Chief of Stan/Eval, Beale AFB, CA
10. June 2017 – July 2018, Director of Operations, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
11. July 2018 – May 2019, Commander, 9th Operations Support Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
12. May 2020 – June 2021, Chief of Staff, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, CA
13. July 2021 – June 2022, SDE Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
14. July 2022 – June 2023, Chief, Airborne Reconnaissance Ops, Pacific Air Forces, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
15. July 2023 – July 2024, Division Chief, Air Operations and Special Capabilities, Pacific Air Forces, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
16. July 2024 – June 2025, Executive Assistant to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
17. June 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 81st Training Wing, Keesler AFB, MS
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 4,265 Combat hours: 1,915
Aircraft flown: U-2S, TU-2S, T-38A, MC-12W, BE-350, C-17A, C-5A/B, T-1A, T-37B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with silver star and bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with silver star and bronze star
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
Major May 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2017
Colonel July 1, 2023
(Current as of July 2025)