Lt Col Joshua B. Meents

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOSHUA B. MEENTS

Lieutenant Colonel Joshua B. Meents is the Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies for Air Force ROTC Detachment 190, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. As the Department Head he leads a five person cadre, responsible for training, mentoring, and commissioning cadets throughout the year. The Flyin’ Illini Cadet Wing is one of the original six AFROTC Detachments in the United States, chartered in 1949.

Lt Col Meents earned his commission in 2008 from the United States Air Force Academy in Operations Research. As an Operations Analyst, he most recently provided data analysis and management support to the Directorate of Force Development and Design within US Special Operations Command. Other assignments include operational and joint test and evaluation, manpower analysis, Headquarters Air Combat Command analyst, and Naval Academy math instructor. He holds master’s degrees in project management, operations research, and military operational art and science.

Education	Assignments
2008 Bachelor of Science, Operations Research, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO. 2012 Master of Science, Project Management, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL. 2013 Master of Science, Operations Research, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, OH. 2022 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL	May 2008 – Aug 2011, Operational Test Analyst, Det 1 53rd Electronic Warfare Group, Nellis AFB, NV Aug 2011 – Mar 2013, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, OH. Mar 2013 – June 2015, Manpower Analyst, 2nd Manpower Requirements Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA June 2015 – Oct 2016, Operations Analyst, Analysis and Lessons Learned Division, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA Oct 2016 – Oct 2019, Analysis Division Chief, Air Force Joint Test Office, Nellis AFB, NV Oct 2019 – June 2021, Senior Instructor, Math Department, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD June 2021 – June 2022, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL June 2022 – June 2025, Data Analysis Branch Chief, Force Development and Design Directorate (J-7), US Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, FL June 2025—Present, Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies, Air Force ROTC Detachment 190, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL.
Major Awards and Decorations	Effective Dates of Promotion
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal Air and Space Force Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters	2nd Lieutenant, May 2008 1st Lieutenant, May 2010 Captain, May 2012 Major, January 2018 Lieutenant Colonel, March 2023

Education

Assignments

Major Awards and Decorations

Effective Dates of Promotion