Operations Flight Commander
Major Venancio E. Deocariza
Major Venancio Deocariza is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies and Recruiting Officer for the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 665, at The University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. As Operations Flight Commander and instructor, he leads the detachment staff in daily operations, education, training, and development, of student cadets aspiring to commission into the United States Air Force.
In 2009 Major Deocariza earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business from California State University, Long Beach, and commissioned into the Air Force through AFROTC at Loyola Marymount University, Detachment 040. He completed Air Battle Manager training, and joined the 963d Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS) as an Air Weapons Officer. Upgrading to Electronic Combat Officer on the E-3 AWACS, Maj Deocariza then served in the 552 Operations Support Squadron developing training and simulations for the 552 Operations Group.
In 2016 Maj Deocariza was assigned to fly on the NATO AWACS at Geilenkirchen, Germany where he served as Chief of Squadron Mobility, and Deputy Chief of Combat Crisis and Response at the Operations Wing (OWEC). Prior to his current assignment Maj Deocariza deployed with the 960 AACS to the Combined Air Operations Center in Al Udeid, Saudi Arabia, and led the 965 AACS Mobility office as Chief of Squadron Readiness, preparing E-3G deployment crews.
The Major has deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE and has over 2,000 flying hours including 572 combat hours on the E-3 Sentry, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).
Education
2009 Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration-International Business, California State University, Long Beach
2010 Graduate, Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 Master of Business Administration, Oklahoma City University
2015 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
Assignments
1. August 2010 - July 2011, Student Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Training, Tyndall Air Force Base, FL
2. July 2011 - June 2014, Air Weapons Officer, 963d Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, OK
3. June 2014 - October 2014, Student Electronic Combat Officer 552d Training Squadron, Assistant Flight Commander, Deputy Chief, Resource Administrator, 963d Airborne Air Control Squadron Tinker Air Force Base, OK
4. October 2014 - October 2015, Electronic Combat Officer, Chief Scenario Development, 552d Operations Support Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, OK
5. October 2015 - June 2016, Chief Distributed Mission Operations, 552d Operations Support Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, OK
6. June 2016 - April 2017, Student Passive Controller NATO E-3A Component, NATO Airbase Geilenkirchen, Germany
7. April 2017 - June 2018, Passive Controller E-3A Operations Squadron, Chief of Squadron Readiness, NATO Airbase Geilenkirchen, Germany
8. June 2018 – December 2019, Deputy Chief of Wing Readiness NATO Airbase Geilenkirchen, Germany
9. December 2019 - December 2020, Assistant Director of Operations, 960 Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma
10. December 2020 - June 2021, Chief Resource Advisor / Facility Management 552 Operations Group (duties at), Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma
11. June 2021 – September 2022, Chief Mobility and Readiness, 965 Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma
12. September 2022 – present, Assistant Professor of Aerospace studies, Detachment 665, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
Summary of Joint Assignments
June 2016 - December 2019, Passive Controller, Deputy Chief of Wing Readiness NATO Airbase Geilenkirchen, Germany
Flight Information
Rating: Air Battle Manager (Section Lead In Charge)
Flight hours: 2,126
Aircraft Flown: E-3A/B/C/G
Major Awards and Decorations
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters