Lt. Col. Justin Delorit is the Commander, 819th RED HORSE Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. The 819th RED HORSE Squadron is one of five Air Force active duty specialized heavy construction and repair combat engineering units providing a highly mobile, self- sufficient agile combat support capability to the warfighter. Lt. Col. Delorit commands 250 personnel and is responsible for 180 special and general purpose vehicles and equipment valued at more than $21 million. He controls an annual budget of $3 million while directing troop labor construction projects worldwide worth up to $30 million annually. He oversees the warfighting capability and operational readiness of his unit to respond to contingencies worldwide.
Lt. Col. entered the Air Force in December 2005 through ROTC from Michigan Technological University, where he received a bachelor of science in civil engineering. He completed civil engineer officer basic training in July 2006, and since then has held a variety of squadron, staff, and academic within the Air Force Civil Engineer enterprise. Prior to his current position, Lt. Col. Delorit was the Deputy Head and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.
2006 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Master of Science, Engineering Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2013 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2018 Doctor of Philosophy, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wis.
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (by correspondence)
2021 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (by correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. February 2006 – June 2007, Readiness and Emergency Management Flight Commander, 81st Civil Engineer Squadron, 81st Mission Support Group, Keesler Air Force Base (AFB), Miss.
2. June 2007 – February 2008, Chief, Contracts and Construction, 81st Civil Engineer Squadron, 81st Mission Support Group, AFB, Miss.
3. February 2008 – February 2009, Chief, Program Management Office, 81st Civil Engineer Squadron, 81st Mission Support Group, AFB, Miss.
4. February 2009 – August 2010, Chief, Expeditionary Plans and Training, Headquarters Second Air Force, Keesler AFB, Miss.
5. August 2010 – April 2012, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. April 2012 – May 2013, Asset Management Flight Commander, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kunsan Air Base (AB), Republic of Korea
7. July 2013 – August 2015, Course Director, The Civil Engineer School, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. August 2015 – May 2018, Student, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis.
9. June 2018 – June 2019, Deputy Squadron Commander, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
10. June 2019 – July 2022, Assistant Professor, Systems Engineering and Management Department, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
11. July 2022 – Present, Commander, 819th RED HORSE Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Montana
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2014 Air Education and Training Command Educator of the Year
2014 Air Education and Training Command NSPE Federal Engineer of the Year
2019 Air Force Arthur Flemming Award for Basic Science
2019 NSPE Federal Engineer of the Year
2020 Major General Dean L. Fox Senior Military Manager of the Year
(Current as of July 2022)