Col J. Paul Conner is the Commander of the 35th Mission Support Group, Misawa Air Base, Japan. He is responsible for over 2,200 personnel across six diverse squadrons safeguarding and maintaining $16.9B in Misawa Air Base infrastructure for the 35th Fighter Wing and mission partners.
The group provides expeditionary combat and mission readiness with facility and airfield maintenance, personnel and administrative support, installation and resource security, contracting, transportation, supply and logistics planning, chemical and explosive defense, communications and computer systems, and quality of life programs.
Colonel Conner graduated from Virginia Tech in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a minor in Leadership. After commissioning through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, he has served in numerous Wings, the Joint Staff, Headquarters Air Force, the staff of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, and commanded two Civil Engineer Squadrons. His contingency experience includes deployments to Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Djibouti. In his previous assignment, Colonel Conner served as the Senior Military Assistant in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
2005 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Master of Science, Engineering Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Master of Arts, Defense and Strategic Studies, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
2022 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2005 – July 2007, Project Engineer and Squadron Section Commander, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Group Executive Officer, 366th Mission Support Group, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
2. August 2007 – April 2009, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. April 2009 – April 2010, Chief, Airfield Programs 51st Civil Engineer Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
4. May 2010 – June 2013, Project Engineer and Design Team Chief, 823d RED HORSE Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
5. June 2013 – June 2015, Chief, Air Combat Command Military Construction Program, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
6. June 2015 – July 2017, Operations Flight Commander, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Wing Executive Officer, 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England
7. July 2017 – June 2018, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
8. June 2018 – June 2019, Commander, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
9. July 2019 – July 2021, Commander, 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
10. July 2021 – June 2022, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
11. June 2022 – April 2024, Joint Staff Engineer and Deputy Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
12. April 2024 – May 2025, Senior Military Assistant, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2025 – Present, Commander, 35th Mission Support Group, Misawa Air Base, Japan
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2022 – February 2023, Joint Staff Engineer, the Joint Staff, Washington D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
2. March 2023 – April 2024, Deputy Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Navy Commendation Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Civil Engineer Basic Officer Course
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Institute of Technology
2012 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2012 United States Air Force Civil Engineer Company Grade Officer of the Year
2018 Distinguished Graduate, College of Naval Command and Staff
2022 Distinguished Graduate, National War College
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 13, 2005
First Lieutenant June 13, 2007
Captain June 13, 2009
Major January 1, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2018
Colonel April 1, 2024
(Current as of June 2025)