Col. Albert M. Esposito is the Commander, 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye. As Commander, Col Esposito is responsible for approximately 3,500 U.S. military, civilian and contractor personnel and the combat readiness of U.S. Air Force units at Incirlik and two geographically separated units in Türkiye. He is also responsible for Base Operations Support Integration activities for Türkiye-based joint and combined combat forces conducting operations in the region.
Col. Esposito enlisted in the Air Force in 1994 and began his career as a Security Police Security Specialist. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2003 and commissioned in 2004 through Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He began his flying career as a B-52 Navigator in the 96th Bomb Squadron and later served as a Flight Commander in the 2d Operations Support Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Following this, he was assigned to the 340th Weapons Squadron where he served as a Weapons School Instructor and later the Director of Operations. Col Esposito went on to command the 2d Operations Support Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. He has deployed in support of several key missions including Joint Task Force BRAVO, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, U.S. Pacific Command’s Continuous Bomber Presence, and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Deputy Wing Commander of the 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Industrial Technology, Southeastern Louisiana University
2010 Weapons Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Master of Military Arts and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2017 Master of Philosophy, Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Senior Developmental Education Fellowship, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif.
2023 Joint and Combined Warfighting School – JPME Phase II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1994 – June 1994, Trainee, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. June 1994 – February 1998, Security Forces Member, 2d Security Forces Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
3. September 1998 – February 2004, Security Forces Member, 159th Security Forces Squadron (Air National Guard), Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, La.
4. February 2004 – May 2004, Officer Trainee, AF Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
5. May 2004 – June 2005, Student Navigator, 562d Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
6. June 2005 – March 2006, B-52 Student Navigator, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
7. March 2006 – January 2011, B-52 Navigator, Radar Navigator, and Weapons Instructor, 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
8. January 2011 – October 2012, Chief of Training and Flight Commander of Strategic Plans, 2d Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
9. October 2012 – October 2013, Flight Commander, 340th Weapons Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
10. October 2013 – October 2014, Executive Officer to the Commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force – Afghanistan, HQ ISAF, Kabul, Afghanistan
11. October 2014 – June 2015, Deputy Chief of the Standoff Munitions Application Center, 608th Air and Space Operations Center, Barksdale, La.
12. June 2015 – June 2016, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
13. June 2016 – June 2017, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. June 2017 – June 2018, Director of Operations, 340th Weapons Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
15. June 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 2d Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
16. June 2020 – June 2021, Air Force Fellow, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif.
17. June 2021 – August 2023, Chief, Strategy Development Branch, Joint Staff, J-5, Pentagon
18. August 2023 – June 2024, Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air Force, A-8, Pentagon
19. June 2024 – June 2025, Deputy Wing Commander, 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye
20. June 2025 – Present, Commander, 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik AB, Türkiye
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: More than 1,900
Aircraft flown: B-52H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic Feb. 3, 1994
Airman Aug. 3, 1994
Airman First Class June 3, 1995
Senior Airman Aug. 3, 1996
Staff Sergeant May 12, 2000
Technical Sergeant May 28, 2002
Second Lieutenant May 14, 2004
First Lieutenant May 14, 2006
Captain May 14, 2008
Major March 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 1, 2017
Colonel Aug. 1, 2023
(Current as of June 2025)