Colonel Cory Christoffer
Colonel Cory R. “Ogre” Christoffer is the Commander, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 20, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. He is responsible for the formal training and education of over 110 officer candidates and serves on the University of Arizona faculty as Professor of Aerospace Studies.
Colonel Christoffer earned his commission in 1998 from the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Texas. He is a command pilot with 3219 flight hours in the F-15C/D and the T-38 A/B/C, serving in several operational and training environments, including OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE. He has held several leadership and command positions, including four positions in the United States Central Command and United States Southern Command.
A Joint Qualified Officer (JQO), Col Christoffer was a key air planner for OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and the RESOLUTE SUPPORT MISSION, and managed air operations over OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE and the ARABIAN GULF. Prior to his current position, the Colonel was the Department of the Air Force Chief of Aviation Safety at the Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science and K-12 Teaching Certificate in Kinesiology, University of Texas, Austin, TX
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Distance Learning Program, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, Liberty Theological Seminary, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
2011 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 Air War College, Distance Learning Program, Maxwell AFB, AL
2019 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
July 1998 – February 1999: Casual student, 435th FTS, Randolph Air Force Base, TX
February 1999 – March 2000: Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX
March 2000 – August 2000: Student, T-38 Pilot Instructor (PIT), 560th FTS, Randolph AFB, TX
August 2000 – April 2003: Instructor pilot, evaluation pilot, assistant flight commander, 87th FTS, Laughlin AFB, TX
April 2003 – July 2003: Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals (IFF), 435th FTS, Moody AFB, GA
July 2003 – November 2004: Student, F-15C Formal Training Unit (FTU), 1st FS, Tyndall AFB, FL
November 2004 – April 2007: F-15C Mission Commander, Flight Commander, Chief Wing Training, 33rd FW, Eglin AFB, FL
July 2007 – June 2011: T-38C Instructor Pilot and Branch Chief Standardization/Evaluation, Wing Chief Flight Safety, 12th FTW, Randolph AFB, TX
October 2008 – March 2009: Chief Air Planner, CENTCOM/USFOR-A Integrated Planning Team, Kandahar, Afghanistan
June 2011 – June 2012: Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
June 2012 – May 2014: Chief, Fighter Branch, Doctrine and Development, LeMay Center for AF Doctrine, Maxwell AFB, AL
May 2013 – December 2013: A5 Deputy Director for Strategic Planning, Headquarters, 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force- Afghanistan, Headquarters ISAF, Kabul, Afghanistan
July 2014 – December 2015: Director of Operations and T-38C Instructor Pilot, 47th Student Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
December 2015 – October 2016: Chief of Wing Safety, T-38C Instructor Pilot, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, TX
Oct 2016 – June 2018: Commander and T-38C Instructor Pilot, 47th Student Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
June 2018 – June 2019: Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
June 2019 – June 2020: Deputy Director, Combined Air Operations Center, and Deputy Commander, 609th Air Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
June 2020 – August 2021: Chief of Inspections, AETC Inspector General, Headquarters AETC, Randolph AFB, TX
August 2021 – August 2023: Commander, 612th Theater Operations Group and 474th Air Expeditionary Group, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ
August 2023 – June 2024: Chief, Department of the Air Force Aviation Safety, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, NM
July 2024 – present, Commander, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Det 20, University of Arizona, AZ
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two devices
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Top Red Bull Award, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training
2000 Distinguished Graduate, T-38 Pilot Instructor Training
2003 Distinguished Graduate, Air-to-Air Top Gun, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals
2004 Top Gun Award, F-15C Formal Training Unit
2005 Top Third Program, Outstanding Contributor, Right of Line, Squadron Officer School
2014 Outstanding Graduate, Air War College, Distance Learning Program