COLONEL BENJAMIN A. JANS
Colonel Jans is the 71st Mission Support Group Commander, 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. As the Installation Manager, he is responsible for the $550M flying operations and base operations contracts and all support for the Vance mission and community, including procurement, civil engineering, firefighting, security and law enforcement, communications, personnel, supply, transportation, housing, recreation, and services activities.
Colonel Jans’ experience spanned all levels of financial management to include base-level, major command and air staff. He also served as a Squadron Commander three times. Colonel Jans is a native of Butte, North Dakota. He enlisted in the Air Force under the Delayed Enlistment Program in February 1992 during his senior year. He initially served 5 years as a Services Specialist. In October 1997, he cross-trained into the Comptroller career field, achieving the grade of Staff Sergeant. After graduating from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, he earned his commission through Officer Training School in October 2003. He and his wife, Nancy, have one son, Seth.
Prior to this assignment, Colonel Jans was Director of Financial Management and Comptroller, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California.
EDUCATION
2000 Associate of Science, Financial Management, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2002 Associate of Science, Aviation Business Administration, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2002 Bachelor of Science, Management of Technical Operations, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2004 Aerospace Basic Course in residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Squadron Officer School in residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Master of Business Administration, Trident University International, Chandler, Ariz.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2016 Masters of Military Operational Arts and Sciences, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 2003 – November 2005, Deputy Flight Commander and Flight Commander, Financial Services, 71st Comptroller Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
2. November 2005 – May 2007, Command Comptroller Inspector, Air Combat Command Inspector General, Langley AFB, Va.
3. May 2007 – June 2010, Chief, Management Headquarters and Major Command Budget Analyst, Air Combat Command Financial Management, Langley AFB, Va. (November 2007 – March 2008, Foreign Military Sales Host Nation Support Coordinator, Security Assistance Office, Multi-National Security Transition Command, Baghdad, Iraq)
4. June 2010 – June 2013, Headquarters Budget Analyst and Lead Flying Hour Analyst, Directorate of Budget Operations, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, the Pentagon, Washington D.C. (June 2011 – November 2011, Lead Foreign Military Sales Budget Officer, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing, Baghdad, Iraq)
5. June 2013 – July 2015, Commander, 36th Comptroller Squadron and 36th Wing Staff Agencies, Andersen AFB, Guam
6. July 2015 – June 2016, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. June 2016 – July 2018, Commander, 11th Comptroller Squadron, 11th Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
8. July 2018 – July 2020, Commander, 375th Comptroller Squadron, 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott AFB, Ill.
9. July 2020 – June 2023, Chief, Budget Operations Branch, Space Operations Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
10. July 2023 – May 2024, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. June 2024 – June 2025, Director, Financial Management and Comptroller, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
12. June 2025- Present, Commander, 71st Mission Support Group, Vance AFB, Okla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1997 Diamond Leadership Award, Airman Leadership School
2004 Outstanding Contributor, Aerospace Basic Course
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Basic Financial Management Officers Course
2006 Air Combat Command Inspector General Company Grade Officer of the Year
2006 Air Combat Command Financial Management Educator of the Year
2020 Air Mobility Command Major General Alfred K. Flowers Comptroller Organization of the Year
2020 United States Space Force Larry O. Spencer Special Acts and Services Award
2021 Space Operations Command Directorate of Resource Management and Special Programs Field Grade Officer of the Year
2022 Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller Larry O. Spencer Special Acts and Services Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant October 31, 2003
First Lieutenant October 31, 2005
Captain October 31, 2007
Major December 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 2018
Colonel August 1, 2024
(CURRENT AS OF APRIL 2026)