Col Kurt J. Distelzweig is the Commander of the 51st Operations Group, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The Group is comprised of two fighter squadrons and an operational support squadron, providing combat airpower to the Combatant Commander. Responsible for training, sustaining, and delivering combat air forces, as well as managing airspace for United States and allied missions, the 51st Operations Group is prepared to meet all theatre mission requirements as part of the most forward-deployed, permanently based wing in the United States Air Force.
Col Distelzweig received his commission in June 2001 as a distinguished graduate of Air Force ROTC at The Ohio State University. He has held a variety of operational positions at the squadron, group, wing, NAF, and MAJCOM level. He is a command pilot with more than 2,200 flying hours in the F-16, including over 451 combat hours in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Odyssey Dawn, and Unified Protector. Additionally, he has deployed in support of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Federal Response mission, Operation Allies Refuge, and Operation Allies Welcome. Prior to his current position, he was the Chief of the Operational Support Division, Pacific Air Forces Headquarters, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
2007 Squadron Officer School, Top Third Graduate, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2011 Air Command and Staff College, by Correspondence
2011 Master of Science, Aerospace and Aviation Science Technology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2013 U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Top 20% Graduate, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
2014 Master of Military Art and Science, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
2016 Air War College, by Correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2001 – May 2002, Student, Initial Flight Training, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
2. May 2002 – July 2003, Student, Distinguished Graduate, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Mississippi
3. July 2003 – October 2004, Student, Distinguished Graduate, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, Luke AFB, Arizona
4. October 2004 – October 2005, F-16 Pilot, Scheduler, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
5. October 2005 – March 2007, F-16 Mission Commander, Assistant Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Cannon AFB, New Mexico
6. March 2007 – March 2010, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Luke AFB, Arizona
7. March 2010 – December 2012, F-16 Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
8. December 2012 – December 2013, Student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
9. December 2013 – December 2014, Student, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
10. December 2014 – March 2017, Chief of Requirements, Air Force Central Command, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
11. March 2017 – June 2017, F-16 Evaluator Pilot, Special Assistant to the Commander, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
12. June 2017 – June 2018, Commander, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
13. June 2018 – June 2020, Inspector General, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
14. June 2020 – July 2022, Chief, Current Operations Division, 15th Air Force, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
15. July 2022 – May 2025, Chief, Operational Support Division, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
16. May 2025 – Present, Commander, 51st Operations Group, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,400 including over 451 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-16, T-38C, T-6A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Iraqi Campaign Medal with 2 devices
Humanitarian Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONSecond Lieutenant June 08, 2001
First Lieutenant July 01, 2003
Captain July 01, 2005
Major September 01, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel September 01, 2016
Colonel January 01, 2023
(Current as of May 2025)