2018 AFCEA TechNet Asia-Pacific Conference & Expo

Lt Col Van Thai, USAF

Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS)


Lieutenant Colonel Van “Diggity” Thai, a U.S. Air Force Mobility Instructor Pilot and Foreign Area Officer (FAO) specializing in Northeast Asia, joined the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) in July 2018. Before arriving to DKI APCSS, Lt Col Thai was a student at the French War College in Paris, France where he studied Global and European security issues with over 240 civilian and military personnel from 62 countries. Prior to attending the War College, he was the Deputy Commander, 18th Operations Group, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 18th Operations Group has over 900 personnel in 13 squadrons and approximately 92 F-15C, F-16, KC-135, E-3 AWACS, E-8 JSTARS, RC-135 and HH-60 aircraft valued at more than $4 billion. The group performs all 18th Wing flying as well as aeromedical and combat rescue missions, in support of U.S. and allies interests. Lieutenant Colonel Thai was born in Saigon, Vietnam. He earned his commission in 1998 from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Lieutenant Colonel Thai is a senior pilot with more than 2,400 flight hours in the KC-135R/T, C-12J, C-12F, T-1A, and T-37B.

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