Colonel Charles C. Stretch, Jr., Ph.D., is the Deputy Commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. He assists the Wing Commander in leading more than 5,500 personnel in the Air Force’s most forward, permanently-based fighter wing providing combat-ready forces in the defense of the Republic of Korea. He leads wing staff personnel and provides guidance for 9 wing committees. Colonel Stretch assists in the administration of more than $150 million for 130 units in order to defend the base, execute contingency operations, and sustain the acceptance of follow-on forces.
Colonel Stretch hails from Arlington, Virginia, and is a 2005 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Military Strategy. He flew combat missions in Operations Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom’s Sentinel providing close air support to American, coalition, and partner ground forces. His previous assignments include Deputy Division Chief for Northeast Asia Political-Military Affairs, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, where he provided analysis and advice to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. Government Interagency on northeast Asian military and security matters. Prior to his current assignment, he served as Strategy Division Chief, 607th Air Operations Center, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. There he advised the Commander Seventh Air Force and Combined Air Component Command, on the formulation of air and space strategy and conduct of information operations in the Korean Theater.
EDUCATION
2025 Joint Combined Warfighting School, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Va
2024 Doctor of Philosophy in Military Strategy, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala
2022 Stephen Lorenz Fellowship, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Washington, D.C.
2018 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala
2017 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala
2013 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev
2012 Master of Arts in American Military History, American Military University, Md
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala
2005 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala
2005 Bachelor of Science in Military History, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2005 – April 2007, student, undergraduate pilot training, Laughlin AFB, Tx
2. April 2007 – October 2007, student, A-10 initial qualification course, Davis-Monthan AFB, Az
3. November 2007 – November 2009, Assistant Chief of Weapons, 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
4. December 2009 – December 2012, Flight Commander and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga
(March – October 2011, Flight Commander, 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan)
5. January 2013 – June 2013, student, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nv
6. July 2013 – June 2016, Chief Weapons and Tactics, 357th Fighter Squadron, and Wing Weapons Officer 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Az
(November 2015 – April 2016, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 447th Air Expeditionary Group, Incirlik AB, Turkey)
7. July 2016 – June 2017, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Al
8. June 2017 – June 2018, student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Al
9. June 2018 – August 2018, student, A-10C requalification course, Davis-Monthan AFB, Az
10. August 2018 – September 2019, Director of Operations, 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Az
(July – August 2019, Director of Operations, 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan)
11. September 2019 – July 2021, Commander, 355th Operations Support Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Az
12. July 2021 – July 2022, Lorenz Fellow & Ph.D. student, School of Advanced Air & Space Studies, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2022 – May 2023, Japan Branch Chief, Northeast Asia Division, J5, DD-Asia, Pentagon, Arlington, Va
14. June 2023 – July 2025, Deputy Division Chief, Northeast Asia Division, J5, DD-Asia, Pentagon, Arlington, Va
15. August 2025 – May 2026, Chief of Strategy, 607th Air Operations Center, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
15. June 2026 – present, Deputy Commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2022 – July 2025, J5, Deputy Directorate for Asia, Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a Lieutenant Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: Over 3,200 including 1,044 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-16, A-10C, A/OA-10A, A-29B, A-37B, T-38C, and T-6A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with gold combat device and eleven oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2019 Mackay Trophy
2017 Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 2005
First Lieutenant June 1, 2007
Captain June 1, 2009
Major Sep. 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel Sep. 1, 2019
Colonel March 1, 2025
(Current as of June 2026)