- Office
Columbus, OH 43210
Lt Col Jay T. Pankey is Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 645, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. He recruits, trains, motivates and counsels highly qualified young men and women as prospective Air Force and Space Force Officers. He promotes Air Force and Space Force career opportunities to university and high school students, parents, faculty and administrators. He also instructs college courses, developing cadets and educating them on the foundation of the U.S. Department of the Air Force.
Lt Col Pankey entered the Air Force in 2003 and received his commission through Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base. He completed Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training in 2004 as an Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO). He joined Air Force Special Operations Command and became an AC-130U EWO and soon cross-trained to become an AC-130U Fire Control Officer (FCO). He is a Master Navigator with more than 3900 hours in the AC-130U as flight instructor and evaluator. He is a Joint Qualified Officer with over 2400 combat hours and has deployed multiple times in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, ODYSSEY DAWN, INHERENT RESOLVE, and FREEDOM’S SENTINAL.
Prior to his current position, Lt Col Pankey was Assistant Professor at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas instructing and mentoring United States and International Field Grade Officers on Joint, Multinational, and Interagency Operations.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
2003 Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2011 Master of Arts, International Relations, University of Oklahoma, Hurlburt Field, Florida
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, by correspondence
2016 Joint and Combined Warfighting School (Joint Professional Military Education Phase II), Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia
2023 Comprehensive Operations Planning Course, NATO School Oberammergau, Oberammergau, Germany
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2003-August 2004, Student Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training - 562/563d Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
2. August 2004-January 2005, Student AC-130U Initial Qualification Course - 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field AFB, FL
3. January 2005-February 2011, AC-130U Instructor EWO/Evaluator FCO, Current Operations Officer, Executive Officer, Flight Commander, Standards and Evaluations Officer - 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field AFB, FL
4. February 2011-June 2013, Group Standards and Evaluations Officer, AC-130U Evaluator FCO - 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, AFB, FL
5. June 2013-October 2014, Chief of Plans / Program Manager, AC-130U Evaluator FCO 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, AFB, FL
6. October 2014-September 2016, SOF Air Operations Officer (SOJ35 Future Operations) - Special Operations Command-Korea, Camp Kim, South Korea
7. September 2016-May 2019, Assistant Operations Officer, AC-130U Evaluator FCO - 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, AFB, FL
8. May 2019-July 2020, Assistant Operations Officer, AC-130U Evaluator FCO - 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, AFB, FL
9. July 2020-July 2023, Air and Special Operations Doctrine Staff Officer - NATO Joint Warfare Centre, Stavanger, Norway,
10. July 2023-July 2026, Instructor/Staff Group Advisor - Air Force Element and Department of Joint, Interagency, & Multinational Operations, Ft Leavenworth, KS
11. July 2026-Present, Instructor, AFROTC Det 645 & Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: 3981 (2408 Combat hours)
Aircraft flown: AC-130U, T-43A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with twenty oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 4, 2003
First Lieutenant April 4, 2005
Captain April 4, 2007
Major March 01, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel January 1, 2018