Colonel JOSEPH W. TRINGE

Colonel Joseph W. Tringe is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He plays a key role in directing the Air Force’s $5 billion science, technology and innovation enterprise and an additional $1.4 billion in externally funded research and development across a 6,000-member government workforce, pushing the boundaries of modern technology for warfighter needs.  He influences strategies leading to the discovery and development of technologies for future warfighter needs.
 
Colonel Tringe was commissioned as a Distinguished Graduate of Detachment 365 in 1994 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass.  He previously served in the National Reconnaissance Office, Space and Missile Systems Center, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.  Prior to assuming his current position, Col Tringe was the IMA to the Deputy Assistant Secretary (Science, Technology and Engineering), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.  
 
EDUCATION
1994, Bachelor of Arts degree in physics, Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass.
1997, Master’s degree in Materials Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
1999, Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2000, Ph.D. in Materials Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
2005, Squadron Officer’s School, by correspondence
2011, Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2015, Joint Advanced Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2018, Air War College, by correspondence
 
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. July 1999 – August 2000, Research Engineer, Space Vehicles Directorate, USAF Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2. August 2000 – August 2001, Chief, Space Materials Research, Space Vehicles Directorate, USAF Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
3. August 2001 – June 2003, Chief, Space Materials Effects Group, Space Vehicles Directorate, USAF Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4.  February 2004 – November 2009, Program Manager, Physics and Electronics Directorate, USAF Office of Scientific Research, Arlington, Va.
5.  November 2009 – November 2012, Program Manager, USAF Office of Scientific Research, attached to Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development, Tokyo, Japan
6.  November 2012 – June 2013, Program Manager, International Office, USAF Office of Scientific Research, Arlington, Va.
7.  June 2013 – December 2013, Technical Advisor, International Office, USAF Office of Scientific Research, Arlington, Va.
8.  December 2013 – December 2016, Chief, Technology Transition, Joint Reserve Directorate, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9.  December 2016 – June 2019, Chief, Advanced Architectures, MILSATCOM, Space and Missile Systems Center, El Segundo, Calif.
10. June 2019 – July 2019, IMA to the Director, MILSATCOM, Space and Missile Systems Center, El Segundo, Calif.
11. August 2019 – June 2020, IMA to the Director, Capability Integration, Portfolio Architect Office, Space and Missile Systems Center, El Segundo, Calif.
12.  July 2020 – May 2022, IMA to the Commander, Space Launch Delta 30, Vandenberg SFB, Calif.
13.  June 2022 – July 2024, IMA to the Director, Mission Operations Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
14.  August 2024 – July 2025, IMA to the Deputy Assistant Secretary (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15.  August 2025-present, Mobilization Assistant, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
 
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
December 2013 – December 2016, Chief, Technology Transition, Joint Reserve Directorate, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
 
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
 
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, June 8, 1994
First Lieutenant, April 23, 1998
Captain, April 23, 2000
Major, April 23, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel, April 23, 2014
Colonel, April 23, 2020
 
(Current as of August 2025)
 
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