Col Ming Xu is the Deputy Commander, 353d Special Operations Wing, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. The wing provides U.S. Indo-Pacific Command with combat-ready Air Force Special Operations forces, operating from Kadena and Yokota Air Bases. The wing employs Special Tactics Teams, MC-130J Commando II, and CV-22B Osprey aircraft.
Col Xu was a 2003 graduate of Arizona State University and ROTC Detachment 025. He entered the Air Force as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer and transitioned to flight training in 2008. He served as an Aircraft Commander, C- 130H, at the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Airbase, Japan, and Instructor Pilot, MC-130H, at the 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida. He has participated in major combat operations in Southwest Asia, as well as multiple humanitarian operations in the Indo- Pacific area of responsibility. Prior to his current position, Col Xu was the Northeast Asia Division Chief, Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J5), Joint Chiefs of the Staff at the Pentagon.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science in Bio-engineering and Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, Arizona State University
2010 MS, Biotechnology-Biosecurity & Biodefense, University of Maryland University College, Distance Learning
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2016 Air Command and Staff College – Political/Military Affairs Strategist, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2016, Congressional Operations and Advanced Budgeting and Appropriations seminar, Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
2017 Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
2022 Secretary of Defense Executive Fellows Programs, Google Cloud, Office of the Chief Technology Officer,
Sunnyvale, CA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2003 – September 2005, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Flight, 353d Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
2. September 2005 – May 2007, Assistant Officer-in-Charge, 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
3. May 2007 – March 2008, Assistant Officer-in-Charge, 16th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
4. March 2008 – May 2009, Student Pilot, Various
5. January 2010 – February 2012, Pilot, C-130H/Flight Commander, 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
6. February 2012 – June 2012, Aircraft Commander, C-130H/Commander’s Action Group, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota AB, Japan
7. June 2012 – August 2013, Aircraft Commander, C-130H/Assistant Operations Director, 36th Airlift Squadron,Yokota AB, Japan
8. August 2013 – October 2014, Pilot, MC-130H/Assistant Operations Director, 15th Special Operations Squadron,Hurlburt Field, FL
9. October 2014 – November 2015, Aircraft Commander, MC-130H/Assistant Operations Director, 15th SpecialOperations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
10. November 2015 – July 2016, Instructor Pilot, MC-130H/Assistant Operations Director, 15th Special OperationsSquadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
11. July 2016 – June 2017 Student, Air Command and Staff College – Political/Military Affairs Strategist, MaxwellAir Force Base, AL
12. June 2017 – June 2019, Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs, USSOCOM Office of Legislative Affairs—Washington Office, Washington D.C.
13. June 2019 – June 2021, Commander, 353d Special Operations Support Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
14. June 2021 – July 2022, Student, Senior Developmental Education/Air War College, Secretary of DefenseExecutive Fellows Program, Google Cloud, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Sunnyvale, CA
15. July 2022 – December 2023, Korea Branch Chief, Deputy Directorate for Asia, Directorate for Strategy, Plans,and Policy (J5), Joint Chiefs of the Staff, Pentagon, VA
16. December 2023 – July 2024, Northeast Asia Division Chief, Deputy Directorate for Asia, Directorate for Strategy,Plans, and Policy (J5), Joint Chiefs of the Staff, Pentagon, VA
17. July 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, 353d Special Operations Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2017 – June 2019, Special Assistance for Legislative Affairs, USSOCOM Office of Legislative Affairs –Washington Office, Washington D.C., as a Lieutenant Colonel
2. July 2022 – December 2023, Korea Branch Chief, Deputy Directorate for Asia, Directorate for Strategy, Plans,and Policy (J5), Joint Chiefs of the Staff, Pentagon, VA, as a Lieutenant Colonel
3. December 2023 – July 2024, Northeast Asia Division Chief, Deputy Directorate for Asia, Directorate for Strategy,Plans, and Policy (J5), Joint Chiefs of the Staff, Pentagon, VA, as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight Hours: 1,993 hours
Combat Hours: 521 hours
Aircraft flown: T-6, C-12, C-130E/H, MC-130H, MC-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
General William H. Tunner Crew Award, Air Force Association, 2015
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal, First Oak Leaf Cluster Air Medal, Sixth Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal, Fourth Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Combat Action Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
2nd Lieutenant 28 May 2003
1st Lieutenant 28 May 2005
Captain 28 May 2007
Major 1 May 2013
Lieutenant Colonel 1 October 2017
Colonel 1 May 2023
(Current as of August 2024)