Colonel MITCHELL J. COK

Col. Mitchell J. Cok is the Deputy Commander, 80th Flying Training Wing, at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. In his role, he assists and advises the commander responsible for the training of more than 1,200 military, civilian and contract personnel employing who collaborate to execute over 55,000 sorties and 66,000 hours annually for the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program, graduating about 200 pilots for the NATO alliance each fiscal year. ENJJPT is the world’s only internationally manned and managed undergraduate pilot training program, in which 14 NATO nations participate: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.  In addition to undergraduate pilot training, the wing also hosts Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals and pilot instructor training.

Cok was born in Grand Haven, Michigan and received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 2000. He completed pilot training at Sheppard AFB, Texas, and served as an F-15C pilot at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho and Kadena AB, Japan. He attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College and served in a joint position at United States Forces Korea/Combined Forces Command/United Nations Command, Republic of Korea. He served as the 80th Operations Support Squadron Director of Operations, the 80th Flying Training Wing Director of Staff, the 88th Fighter Training Squadron Commander, and the 80th Operations Group Deputy Commander at Sheppard AFB, Texas, while also flying as an instructor pilot and evaluator for the IFF program. He attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island before moving to Alaska to serve as the Director of Staff for the 611th Air Operations Center at Joint Base Elmendorf, Richardson. Prior to his current position, Cok served as the State Command Inspector General for the Alaska National Guard.

 

EDUCATION:

2000 Distinguished Graduate, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO

2005 Top Third Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), AL

2008 Master of Business Administration and Management (with Distinction), American Military University, Charles Town, WV

2010 Air Command and Staff College (non-residence)

2012 United States Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS

2020 With Distinction, Advanced Studies Group, United States Naval War College, Newport, RI

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

  1. August 2000 – December 2000, student awaiting training, Tyndall AFB, FL
  2. January 2001 – April 2002, student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, TX
  3. May 2002 – March 2003, F-15C Basic Course, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, FL
  4. April 2003 – August 2005, F-15C Mission Commander, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Chief of Scheduling, 390th Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, ID
  5. September 2005 – January 2007, T-38C Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Instructor Pilot and Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 49th Fighter Training Squadron, Moody AFB, GA
  6. February 2007 – March 2009, T-38C Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander, 435th Fighter Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, TX
  7. April 2009 – April 2010, F-15C Flight Lead and Flight Commander, 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base (AB), Japan
  8. May 2010 – May 2011, F-15C Instructor Pilot and Executive Officer, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
  9. June 2011 – June 2012, Student, United States Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS
  10. July 2012 – July 2014, J33 Air Forces Branch Chief and Executive Officer to the United States Forces Korea/Combined Forces Command/United Nations Command J3, United States Army Garrison Yongsan, Republic of Korea
  11. August 2014 – January 2015, T-38C Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Instructor Pilot, 88th Fighter Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX
  12. February 2015 – March 2016, Director of Operations, 80th Operations Support Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX
  13. April 2016 – January 2017, Director of Staff, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, TX
  14. February 2017 – July 2018, Commander, 88th Fighter Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX
  15. August 2018 – June 2019, Deputy Commander, 80th Operations Group, Sheppard AFB, TX
  16. July 2019 – August 2020, Student, Advanced Studies Group, United States Naval War College, Newport, RI
  17. September 2020 – July 2021, Director of Staff, 611th Air Operations Center, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
  18. August 2021 – June 2023, Alaska National Guard State Command Inspector General, Joint Force Headquarters, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
  19. July 2023 – Present, Deputy Commander, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, TX

 

 

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command pilot Flight hours: over 2400

Aircraft flown: F-15C, T -38A/C, T-37B, T-6A

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf clusters

Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf clusters

Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters Combat Readiness Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korean Defense Service Medal

Air and Space Overseas Ribbon Long

Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon

Air and Space Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters