Colonel Benjamin W. Couchman is the Wing Commander of the 140th Wing, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. He is responsible for the combat readiness and performance of the 140th Wing; directly commanding 5 groups, 1 Civil Engineering Element, and 1650+ Airmen. Col Couchman prepares the wing for deployment and operations supporting critical National Command Authority and Combatant Commander objectives. He develops future military leaders; directs planning and execution to prepare the Wing for state and federal missions. Finally, he overseas the execution of 24/7/365 Air Space Control Authority & missile warning missions, in support of Homeland Defense & NC3.
Colonel Couchman began his military career after graduating and commissioning from the United States Air Force Academy in May 2002. He graduated F16 Basic Course in August 2005 and spent 14 years on active duty followed by 8 years with the Air National Guard. While on active duty, he served as an F-16 evaluator and instructor pilot, stationed with the 555th FS at Aviano AB for two assignments and the 80th FS at Kunsan AB for one. Col Couchman also served with the 17th Special Tactics Squadron as a Special Operations jump Air Liaison Officer and Joint Terminal Attack Controller attached to the 75th Ranger Regiment. He joined the COANG in 2016 where he has filled multiple roles, including Airburst Range Commander, 120th Fighter Squadron Commander, and 140th Operations Group Commander. Prior to his current position, the Colonel was the Director of Air Staff, Colorado Air National Guard, Buckley SFB, Colorado.
He has over 100 HALO and HAHO jumps and deployed three times in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan, as a strike force and reconnaissance JTAC attached to various Task Force operations. He is also a command pilot with more than 2900 hours in the F-16C, having flown over 800 combat hours in Operations Resolute Support and Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve out of Saudi Arabia over the course of three more deployments. His seventh and most recent deployment to CENTCOM was as the 380 Air Expeditionary Wing Commander, Al Dhafra Air Base.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Operations Research, U.S Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2008 USAF Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University
2014 Master of Science, Operations Research, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga. 2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
- April 2003-August 2005, USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training, 80 OSS, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
- August 2005-November 2005, Squadron Scheduler/F-16 Pilot, 555 FS, Aviano Air Base, Italy
- November 2005-June 2007, Air to Ground Weapons Officer/F-16, 555 FS, AB, Italy
- June 2007-June 2008, Electronic Combat Pilot/F-16, 555 FS, Aviano AB, Italy
- June 2008-February 2009, Chief of Combat Employment/F-16 FL, 8 OSS, Kunsan AB, Korea
- February 2009-November 2010, C Flight Commander/F-16 IP, 80 FS, Kunsan AB, Korea
- November 2010-January 2012, Flight Commander/Special Operations Air Liaison Officer, 17th STS, Ft Benning, Ga. (Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan x 2)
- January 2012-July 2013, Assistant Director of Operations/Special Operations Air Liaison Officer, 17th STS, Ft Benning, Ga. (Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan)
- July 2013-May 2014, Assistant Director of Operations/Flight Equipment Officer, 31st Operations Support Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
- May 2014-July 2016, Assistant Director or Operations/Chief of Standards and Evaluation, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy (Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve, Afghanistan)
- July 2016-June 2018, Range Control Officer, 140th Operations Support Squadron, Buckley Space Force Base, Colo.
- June 2018-June 2019, Range Commander, 140th Operations Support Squadron, Buckley SFB, Colo. (Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve, Afghanistan)
- June 2019-January 2020, Director of Operations, 140th Operations Support Squadron, Buckley SFB, Colo.
- January 2020-May 2021, Chief of Staff/Wing Plans, 140th Wing, Buckley SFB, Colo
- May 2021-May 2022, Squadron Commander, 120th Fighter Squadron, Buckley SFB, Colo. (Operation Inherent Resolve, Saudi Arabia)
- May 2022-April 2024, Group Commander, 140th Operations, Buckley SFB, Colo.
- April 2024-November 2024, Director of Air Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Joint Force Headquarters, Colo.
- November 2024-March 2025, Wing Commander, 140th Wing, Buckley SFB, Colo.
- March 2025-October 2025, Wing Commander, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra AB, UAE
- October 2025-Present, Wing Commander, 140th Wing, Buckley SFB, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
November 2010-January 2012, Flight Commander/Special Operations Air Liaison Officer, 17th STS, Ft Benning, Ga, as a Captain (Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan x 2)
January 2012-July 2013, Assistant Director of Operations/Special Operations Air Liaison Officer, 17th STS, Ft Benning, Georgia, as a Major (Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan)
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 2910 (841 Combat)
Aircraft flown: T-37, AT-38 and F-16
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 6 “C” devices and 5 oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with 2 “C” devices and 1 oak leaf cluster Air and Space Achievement Medal
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
Command Pilot Badge
Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
Parachute Badge
Air Assault Badge
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
Major April 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel December 21, 2018
Colonel November 30, 2022
(Current as of Nov 2025)