Colonel Morgan P. Lohse is the Commander, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Goldsboro, North Carolina. As the commander, he is responsible for the organization, training, and deployment of one of the largest fighter wings in the United States Air Force, consisting of nearly 7,000 Airmen and civilians. The 4th Fighter Wing is home to 94 F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft assigned to two operational and two training fighter squadrons, flying more than 12,000 sorties and 20,000 hours per year. The 4 FW partners with and provides overall host support for the 916th Air Refueling Wing and its KC-46 fleet.
Col Lohse commissioned through Officer Training School in 2003. He is a graduate of National War College and the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and a former USAF Weapons School Instructor. Col Lohse deployed to Operation INHERENT RESOLVE as the Director of Operations of the 492d Fighter Squadron and again as the Commander of the 494th Fighter Squadron. He has led combat missions in Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq. He has served as the Executive Officer to COMUSAFE-AFAFRICA and as the Israel Country Director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Prior to assuming his current position, Colonel Lohse was the Operations Group Commander, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
2009 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2011 Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.
2015 Master of Arts in Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2003 - March 2005, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
2. March 2005 - November 2005, Student, F-15E WSO, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
3. January 2006 - December 2008, F-15E WSO, Mission Planning Officer, F-15E IWSO, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 492d Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England
4. January 2009 - June 2009, Student, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
5. June 2009 - January 2012, F-15E IWSO, Flight Commander, 334th Fighter Squadron, Chief of Wing Tactics, 4th Operational Support Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
6. January 2012 - July 2014, USAF Weapons School Instructor, Flight Commander, 17th Weapons Squadron, Chief of Wing Weapons and Assistant Director of Operations, 57th Operational Support Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. July 2014 - June 2016, Student, ACSC and SAASS, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 2016 - March 2019, Assistant Director of Operations, 494th Fighter Squadron, Director of Operations, 492d Fighter Squadron, Commander, 494th Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England
9. March 2019 - June 2020, Executive Officer to the Commander, USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein AB, Germany
10. July 2020 - June 2021, Student, National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. June 2021 - May 2023, Middle East Country Director, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. June 2023 – March 2023, Commander, 4th Operations Group, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
13. March 2024 - Present, Commander, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2021 - May 2023, Middle East Country Director, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator Flight hours: over 3000, including 1109 combat hours Aircraft flown: F-15E
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Outstanding Graduate, Officer Training School
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Undergraduate Navigator Training
2005 Distinguished Graduate, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals
2005 Distinguished Graduate, F-15E Formal Training Unit
2010 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2015 Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College
2016 Security Studies Thesis Prize, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies
2017 Raytheon Trophy, 492d Fighter Squadron
2018 Raytheon Trophy, 494th Fighter Squadron
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 27, 2003
First Lieutenant June 27, 2005
Captain June 27, 2007
Major Nov. 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 1, 2016
Colonel March 1, 2021
(Current as of April 2024)