Col. Jonathan W. Kuntz is the Commander, 54th Fighter Group, Holloman AFB, New Mexico. He is responsible for the operations of the largest F-16 Formal Training Unit. The 54th Fighter Group is under the command of the 49th Wing and consists of more than 400 people including three F-16 Fighter Squadrons, an Operations Support Squadron and a Training Squadron. Before this assignment, Col Kuntz served as the Concept Development Branch Chief, Directorate of Joint Force Development, the Joint Staff, Suffolk, VA.
Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, Col. Kuntz entered the Air Force in 2004 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and completed Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, in 2005. His first operational assignment was flying the F-16C/D at Misawa AB, Japan, after which he transitioned to the F-22A in 2009. During his time in the F-22, Col. Kuntz held a variety of positions, including F-22 Instructor Pilot, Weapons Officer, Evaluator, USAF Weapons School Instructor, and F-22 squadron commander.
Col. Kuntz is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and a graduate of the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Advanced Warfighting School. He is a command pilot with more than 2,100 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, F-16C/D, and F-22A.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
2011 Master of Science, Aviation Science Technology, Embry-Riddle Worldwide, by correspondence
2011 Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2012 USAF Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, NV
2014 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2018 Master of Science, Strategic Studies, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval Station Newport, RI
2018 Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, Naval Station Newport, RI
2020 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2004 – January 2006, Student Pilot, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
2. February 2006 – December 2006, Student, F-16C/D Basic Course, Luke AFB, Arizona
3. January 2007 – December 2009, Electronic Combat Pilot and F-16 Instructor, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan (May 2007 – October 2007, Scheduler and F-16 Wingman, 13th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Balad AB, Iraq)
4. January 2010 – December 2012, Assistant Director of Operations and F-22 Instructor, 90th Fighter Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
5. January 2013 – April 2014, Chief of Weapons and F-22 Instructor, 525th Fighter Squadron, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska (January 2013 – May 2013 and September 2013 – April 2014, Chief of Weapons and F-22 Instructor, 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Al-Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates)
6. May 2014 – June 2017, Director of Operations and F-22 Weapons School Instructor/Evaluator, 433rd Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada
7. July 2017 – August 2018, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff and Student, Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island
8. September 2018 – July 2019, Chief, Capability and Development Team, Air Combat Command, JB Langley-Eustis, Virginia
9. August 2019 – March 2021, Director of Operations, 1st Operations Support Squadron, JB Langley-Eustis, Virginia
10. April 2021 – February 2023, Commander, 94th Fighter Squadron, JB Langley-Eustis, Virginia
11. March 2023 – June 2023, Deputy Commander, 1st Operations Group, JB Langley-Eustis, Virginia
12. July 2023 – May 2025, Chief, Concept Development Branch, Joint Staff J-7, Department of Defense Suffolk Complex, Virginia
13. June 2025 – Present, Commander, 54th Fighter Group, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2023 – May 2025, Chief, Concept Development Branch, Joint Staff J-7, Department of Defense Suffolk Complex, Virginia , as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 2100
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16C/D, F-22A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2006
Captain June 2, 2008
Major July 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2017
Colonel 1 July, 2023
(Current as of June 2025)