Colonel Ley is the Commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. As commander, he is responsible for ensuring the wing is ready to defend Osan Air Base, execute combat operations, and sustain follow-on forces. He is entrusted with the operational readiness, training, morale, welfare, installation support, and quality of life of more than 5,500 active-duty personnel assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing, Headquarters Seventh Air Force, and other U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps units. Additionally, Colonel Ley serves as the United States Forces Korea Area Five Commander.
Colonel Ley received his commission from the Air Force Officer Training School as a distinguished graduate in 2002. He began his career as an F-15E Weapons Systems Officer, serving operationally in the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. He has since served as an F-16 instructor pilot and evaluator in support of operations throughout the Indo-Pacific region and the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, and has flown missions in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Noble Eagle.
Colonel Ley is a Command Pilot with over 2,500 combined flying hours including 433 combat hours in the F-16. He has led at the squadron, group, and wing levels, including command of the 367th Fighter Squadron, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, and Director of Operations of the 14th Fighter Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan. In addition, Colonel Ley served as the F-16 Branch Chief, Weapons Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, where he was responsible for delivering combat relevant and partner-nation capability to U.S. allies and partners. Prior to this assignment, Colonel Ley served as the Deputy Commander of the 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. Summa Cum Laude
2002 Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. Distinguished Graduate
2004 Undergraduate Navigator Training, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
2005 F-15E Formal Training Unit, Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C. Distinguished Graduate
2007 Specialized Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss. Distinguished Graduate
2009 F-16 Formal Training Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz. Distinguished Graduate
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Master of Science, Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
2016 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. Distinguished Graduate
2021 USAF Senior Fellow, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
2024 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
- Jul 2002 – Mar 2004: Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla.
- Jun 2004 – Mar 2005: Student, F-15E Weapons Systems Officer, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
- Apr 2005 – Jul 2006: F-15E Weapons Systems Officer, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
- Aug 2006 – Feb 2008: Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
- Mar 2008 – Feb 2009: F-16 Initial Qualification Training, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- Mar 2009 – Jul 2011: Chief of Wing Scheduling and Flight Commander, Aviano Air Base, Italy
- Aug 2011 – Feb 2013: Assistant Director of Operations, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
- Mar 2013 – Jun 2015: Chief of Operations Group Standardization and Evaluations, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- Jul 2015 – Jun 2016: Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- Jun 2016 – Jun 2018: Chief of Wing Safety, 35th FW and Director of Operations, 14th FS, Misawa AB, Japan
- Jun 2018 – Jun 2020: Commander, 367th FS, Homestead ARB, Fla.
- Jul 2020 – Jul 2021: U.S. Senior Fellow, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
- Jul 2021 – Jul 2022: Chief, F-16 and Air-to-Ground Weapons Branch, Weapons Division, Deputy Under Secretary of the AirForce International Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA
- Jul 2022 – Jun 2023: Chief, Combat Air Forces Division, Directorate of Training and Readiness, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, V
- Jun 2023 – June 2025: Deputy Commander, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
- June 2025 - Present, Commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,000, including 433 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16
Rating: Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 500
Aircraft flown: T-34, T-1, T-39, T-38, F-15E
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 28, 2002
First Lieutenant June 28, 2004
Captain June 28, 2006
Major, September 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel, December 1, 2016
Colonel, July 1, 2022
(Current as of June 2025)