Lieutenant Colonel James J. Straub, Jr. is the Commander of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 730, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As Commander, Lt Col Straub also serves as Department Chair and Professor of Aerospace Studies. He is responsible for the four-year officer education and training of AFROTC cadets from the University of Pittsburgh and 15 crosstown universities in the greater Pittsburgh area. Lt Col Straub is a cyber operations officer and came to the University as a recognized Joint cyberspace and communications subject matter expert. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the United States Air Force Academy in 2004 and his Master of Science degree in Administration, Human Resources, from Central Michigan University in 2009.
Lieutenant Colonel Straub grew up in National Park, NJ. Throughout his career, he served in support, operations, maintenance, and acquisitions arenas, and has experience in operational test as well as professional military education instruction. He also deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
- 2013 – Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
- 2011 – Cyber 200, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
- 2010 – Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
- 2009 – Master of Science Degree in Administration, Human Resources, Central Michigan University, MI
- 2009 – Aircraft Maintenance Officer School, Sheppard AFB, TX
- 2005 – Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), AL
- 2004 – Expeditionary Communications Officer Training, Keesler AFB, MS
- 2004 – Bachelor of Science Degree in Management, United States Air Force Academy, CO
Education & Training
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal (3 OLC)
- Army Commendation Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal, with campaign star
- Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal
- NATO Medal
Assignments
1. August 2004 – December 2005; OIC, Network Support/OIC Information Assurance, 305th Communications
Squadron, McGuire Air Force Base (AFB), NJ
2. December 2005 – November 2008; Test Director/Assistant Flight Commander, Air Mobility Command Test and
Evaluation Squadron, McGuire AFB, NJ
3. November 2008 – July 2010; OIC, Ground Communications, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
4. July 2010 – July 2012; Flight Commander/Assistant Operations Officer, 33d Student Squadron, Maxwell AFB, AL
5. July 2012 – June 2013; Deputy Director, Mission Support, Squadron Officer College, Maxwell AFB, AL
6. June 2013 – August 2014; Joint C4S Staff Officer, J6 Directorate, US Transportation Command, Scott AFB, IL
7. August 2014 – November 2014; Assistant Director of Operations, 305th Operations Support Squadron, Joint Base
(JB) McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (MDL), NJ
8. November 2014 – May 2016; Director of Operations, 87th Communications Squadron, JB MDL, NJ
9. May 2016 – August 2017; Executive Officer, 87th Air Base Wing, JB MDL, NJ
10. August 2017 – April 2018; Chief, SIE Enterprise Networks, US Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, FL
11. April 2018 –July 2020; Assessment Officer, Intelligence and Information Systems Branch, US Special Operations
Command, MacDill AFB, FL
12. July 2020 – Present; Commander and Professor, Aerospace Studies, AFROTC Detachment 730, University of
Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Summary of Joint Assignments
1. June 2013 – August 2014; Joint C4S Staff Officer, J6 Directorate, United States Transportation Command, Scott
AFB, IL, as a captain
2. Aug 2017 – Apr 2018; Chief, SIE Enterprise Networks Branch, US Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, FL
3. Apr 2018 – Jul 2020; Assessment Officer, Intelligence and Information Systems, US Special Operations Command,
MacDill AFB, FL
Deployed Assignments
1. January 2008 – July 2008; Battle Captain, Afghan Regional Security Integration Command-South, Kandahar Air
Field, Afghanistan
Effective Dates of Promotion
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2006
Captain June 2, 2008
Major September 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2019
(Current as of Nov 2022)
