UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
COLONEL J. WILLIAM DEMARCO
Col J. William DeMarco is Vice Commandant, United States
Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base,
Ala. OTS commissions approximately 2,600 total-force
officers annually for the U.S. Air Force and Air National
Guard through the Basic Officer Training program and Air
National Guard's Academy of Military Science. It also
provides initial officership and leadership training for newlycommissioned health professionals, staff judge advocates,
and chaplains through its Commissioned Officer Training
program
Col DeMarco was born in Burlingame, California. In 1988,
he graduated from the Citadel, The Military College of South
Carolina, as a Distinguished Air Force Student, with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He
was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the
Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Col DeMarco is a command pilot with more than 2,500
flying hours in the C-23A, C-12F, C-141B, KC-10A and KC135R. Col DeMarco holds three masters degrees, one in Military Arts and Science, American Military
University, VA, one in Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, AL, and one in Airpower Art
and Science from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL. He also served as a
National Security Affairs Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, California.
Col DeMarco has served in numerous positions from the squadron to Pentagon level as an aircrew member,
strategist/planner, action officer, executive officer and commander. Since completion of pilot training, he
has served extensively in air mobility from a tactical and strategic airlift pilot, qualified in airdrop and
special operations, tanker pilot, TALCE officer, and Air Mobility Division Chief. Additionally, he has
deployed in support of operations in Central and Southwest Asia as an aircrew member, air expeditionary
squadron commander, and later strategist for the Director of Mobility Forces.
EDUCATION:
1988 Bachelor of Science degree, Business Administration, The Citadel, The Military College of
SC, Charleston, S.C.
1995 Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, Al.
2000 Master of science degree, Military Arts and Science, American Military University, Va.
2003 Master of science degree, Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff
College, Maxwell AFB, Al.
2004 Master of science degree, Airpower Art and Science, School of Advanced Air and Space
Studies, Maxwell AFB, Al.
2008 National Security Affairs Fellow, Hoover Institute, Stanford University, CA
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. January 1989-January 1990, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese AFB, Texas
2. March 1990-December 1990, C-23A pilot, 10th Military Airlift Squadron, Zweibruken Air Base,
Germany
3. December 1990-August 1992, C-12F evaluator pilot, Training Officer, 1400th Military Airlift
Squadron, Norton AFB, Calif.
4. August 1992-September 1993, C-12F evaluator pilot, Chief Squadron Scheduling, 459th Airlift
Squadron, March AFB, Calif.
5. December 1993-March 1997, C-141B instructor pilot, special operations low level II, airlift, air drop,
air refueling, squadron and operations group chief executive officer, 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston
AFB, S.C.
6. March 1997-August 2000, chief airlift contingency branch, TACC/XOOS, assistant chief commanders
action group, TACC/CCX, chief short notice tanker planner, TACC/XOOKS, executive officer to the
commander, Air Mobility Command, Headquarters AMC, Scott AFB, Ill.
7. August 2000-July 2002, KC-10 instructor pilot, assistant operations officer, chief pilot, 9th Air
Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
8. August 2002-June 2003, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. July 2003-June 2004, student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. July 2004-January 2005, operations officer, 715th Air Mobility Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
11. January 2005-June 2007, Commander, 15th Air Mobility Operations Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
12. 2007-2008, national security affairs fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Calif.
13. June 2008-June 2010, Stability Operations Branch Chief, Global Security Affairs, Joint Staff J-5,
Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2010-June 2012, Commander, 100th Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
15. June 2012- May 2013, Commander, Southeast Region Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps
(AFROTC), Maxwell AFB, AL.
16. May 2013 – Present, Vice Commandant, USAF Officer Training School (OTS), Maxwell AFB, AL.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 2,500
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, C-23A, C-12F, C-141B, KC-10A, KC-135R
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
The Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal for Heroism
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
AF Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
AF Organizational Excellence Award with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
PUBLICATIONS:
“May the Best Ideas Win” Hoover Digest, October 14, 2008, No. 4. Hoover Institution, Stanford University
“Leadership Philosophy 101, Who Are You?” October 1, 2013, Applied Leadership and Command Course,
Air Command and Staff College, Air University.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant, September 14, 1988
First Lieutenant, September 14, 1990
Captain, September 14, 1992
Major, January 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel, January 1, 2005
Colonel, 1 May 2010