James Irby

Associate Professor of Aerospace Science/Recruiting Officer

Air Force ROTC

Captain James L. Irby is the Associate Professor of
Aerospace Science/Recruiting Officer, Air Force
Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC),
Detachment 115, The University of Connecticut. As
Associate Professor of Aerospace Science, he is
responsible for the instruction of the 300-level
Aerospace curriculum and assists in the training and
education program for 60+ cadets in pursuit of
becoming commissioned Air Force and Space Force
officers.

Capt Irby calls Washington State home and entered the
Air Force in November 2006, enlisting as an Electrical
and Environmental Apprentice, with his first duty
assignment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
Washington. While stationed there, he held a variety
of positions including Shift Supervisor, Debrief Non Commissioned Officer-in-Charge (NCOIC), Electrical Environmental Lead Technician, Flightline Expeditor,
Flying Crew Chief, and Maintenance Qualification
Training Program Instructor. In 2014, he was
assigned to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, where
he served as the Electrical-Environmental Lead
Technician with the 909th Aircraft Maintenance Unit
and later as the NCOIC of Training and Programs with
the 718th Maintenance Squadron. Captain Irby was commissioned 9 March 2018 through Officer Training
School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Following commissioning, he was assigned to Andrews Air
Force Base, Maryland, where he served as the Commander Support Staff Section Commander for the 11th
Force Support Squadron. During this time, he also served as the Acting Services Flight Commander and as
a Flightline Protocol Officer with the 89th Air Wing. In December 2020, Captain Irby was assigned as the
Deputy Force Support Flight Commander with the 765th Air Base Squadron at Lajes Air Base, Azores,
Portugal. Captain Irby was assigned to the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado
in 2021. There, he has served as the CSS Section Commander, the Deputy Director of Military Training, and
most recently as the Executive Officer.

Captain Irby has served in leadership roles at the squadron, group, and wing levels, and supported various
operations to include Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, and ALLIES
REFUGE.

EDUCATION:
2017 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, University of Maryland, MD
2018 Basic Force Support Officer Course, Keesler AFB, MS
2023 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL

ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2007 – Dec 2014, C-17A Electro-Environmental Technician, 62 AMXS, JBLM, WA
2. January 2015 – December 2017, NCOIC, Programs, 718 AMXS/909 AMU, Kadena AB, JP
3. March 2018 – June 2019, Section Commander, CSS, 11 FSS, JBA, MD
4. June 2019 – January 2020, OIC Lodging, 11 FSS, JBA, MD
5. January 2020 – December 2020, Flightline Protocol Officer, 89 AW, JBA, MD
6. December 2020 – October 2021, Deputy Commander, Force Support Flight, 765 ABS, Lajes AB, PT
7. October 2021 – June 2023, Section Commander, CSS, Preparatory School, USAFA, CO
8. June 2023 – August 2024, Deputy Director, Military Training, Preparatory School, USAFA,CO
9. August 2024 – June 2025, Executive Officer, Preparatory School, USAFA, CO
10. June 2025 – Present, Associate Professor of Aerospace Science/Recruiting Flight Commander, AFROTC
Detachment 115, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with one oak leaf cluster

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman November 29, 2006
Airman First Class June 7, 2007
Senior Airman November 22, 2008
Staff Sergeant August 1, 2010
Technical Sergeant March 1, 2016
Second Lieutenant March 9, 2018
First Lieutenant March 9, 2020
Captain March 9, 2022
(Current as of August 2025)