Colonel Johari J. Hemphill is the 78th Air Base Wing commander at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. He commands more than 2,700 personnel assigned to three groups, a communications directorate, an operations support squadron, a comptroller squadron and 17 wing staff agencies. He is directly responsible for logistics, medical, civil engineer, security and mission support functions, in addition to managing facilities and equipment valued at $8.1 billion, and executing an operating budget of $170.8 million. He trains, deploys, and redeploys more than 1,800 Airmen annually in support of Air and Space Expeditionary Force and combatant commander requirements. Additionally, Col. Hemphill serves as the installation commander supporting the base's more than 50 Mission Partners, including a major command, an air logistics complex and three wings on the 6,935-acre installation; Georgia's largest single-site industrial complex. He is also responsible for the safety, security, morale and welfare of more than 22,000 Total Force Airmen assigned to Robins Air Force Base, and 28,000 local dependents and retirees.

Colonel Hemphill was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, in May of 2000 after earning a Bachelor of Arts in History. He has had numerous operational and staff assignments, commanded two logistics squadrons, and served as a deputy mission support group commander. He deployed in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN performing functions across the entire logistics enterprise.

Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Hemphill was the Commander, 22nd Mission Support Group, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.

EDUCATION

  2000 Bachelor of Arts in History, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2008 Masters in National Security Studies (Homeland Security), American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va.

2008 Advanced Logistics Readiness Officer Course (ALROC), USAF Warfare Center, Ft Dix, N.J.

2010 Air Command and Staff College Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

2011 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

2016 LOGTECH, Advanced Program in Logistics and Technology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

2018 Joint Professional Military Education, Phase II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.

2021 Joint Advanced Warfighter School, Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University, Norfolk, Va.

2021 Masters in National Security Strategy and Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University, Norfolk, V.A.

2022 Africa and Latin America Regional Seminars, Alan L. Freed Associates, The Capitol Hill Club, Washington, D.C.

2023 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, The Capitol Hill Club, Washington, D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. July 2000 – July 2001, Officer in Charge Flight Line Support, Combat Operations Flight, 27th Supply Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.
2. July 2001 – July 2002, Flight Commander, Fuels Management Flight, 27th Supply Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
3. July 2002 – December 2002, Flight Commander, Vehicle Management Flight, 27th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
4. December 2002 – December 2003, Political-Military Advisor and Theater Commander Activities Fund Program Manager, Headquarters Twelfth Air Force, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
5. January 2004 – June 2006, Chief, Strategic Logistics Support, Military Personnel Exchange Program, Headquarters Peruvian Air Material Command, Lima, Peru
6. June 2006 – June 2007, Installation Deployment Officer, 22nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
7. June 2007 – June 2008, Readiness Flight Commander and Installation Deployment Officer, 22nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
8. June 2008 – June 2010, Operations Officer, 22nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
9. June 2010 – June 2011, Deputy Flight Commander, Readiness Flight, 21st Contingency Response Wing, 21st Air Mobility Operations Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
10. June 2011 – June 2012, student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
11. June 2012 – June 2014, Commander, 319th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
12. July 2014 – July 2015, Commander, 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of South Korea
13. July 2015 – January 2017, Branch Chief and Deputy Division Chief, Logistics Operations, Plans and Programs Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
14. January 2017 – January 2018, Deputy Commander, 39th Mission Support Group, Incirlik AB, Turkey
15. March 2018 – July 2020, Military Assistant to Director, Defense Logistics Agency, previously Deputy, Strategic Initiatives Group, and Chief, Readiness Division, Nuclear Enterprise Support Office (J3-10), Headquarters Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.
16. August 2020 – June 2021, student, Joint Advanced Warfighter School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
17. August 2021 – June 2023, Senior Military Advisor, Office of Security Negotiations and Agreements, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Department of State, Washington, D.C.
18. June 2023 – June 2025, Commander, 22nd Mission Support Group, McConnell AFB, Kan.
19. July 2025 – Present, Commander, 78th Air Base Wing, Robins AFB, Ga.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

1. March 2018 – July 2020, Military Assistant to Director, Defense Logistics Agency, previously Deputy, Strategic Initiatives Group, and Chief, Readiness Division, Nuclear Enterprise Support Office (J3-10), Headquarters Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va., as a Lieutenant Colonel
2. August 2021 – June 23, Senior Military Advisor, Office of Security Negotiations and Agreements, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Department of State, Washington, D.C., as a Colonel

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Legion of Merit
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster and Gold Border
Air and Space Outstanding Unit award with seven oak leaf clusters
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Peruvian Air Force Armando Iglesias Revoredo Medal (Grade of Officer)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant May 12, 2000
First Lieutenant Jun 12, 2002
Captain Jun 12, 2004
Major May 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Sept 1, 2015
Colonel Jul 1, 2021

(Current as of July 2025)