Col Walter J. Lesinski
Director, Civilian Institution Programs
Colonel Walter Lesinski is the Director of the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Civilian Institution Programs, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He manages graduate school and continuing education assignments required to support nearly every aspect of the Air Force’s mission. He oversees over 3,700 Air and Space Force members annually entering, graduating and pursuing advanced academic degrees and certifications at over 400 civilian universities, research centers, hospitals, business organizations and governmental agencies across 13 nations with a $112M budget. Graduates include medical professionals, attorneys, chaplains and line officers earning degrees in academic disciplines at all levels.
Prior to this assignment, he was Chief, F-35A Fleet Management Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The office is responsible advocacy over USAF’s F-35A cost, schedule, performance, and sustainment goals ensuring coordination with Joint Strike Fighter Joint Program Office (JPO) and several key government and international stakeholders to assist and collaborate on all activities throughout the entire F-35 program, the DoD's largest and most complex acquisition program.
Col Lesinski was commissioned in 1999 upon graduation from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and is a graduate of Undergraduate Pilot Training and School of Advanced Studies of Air Mobility. He has flown the C-130 E/H and J Hercules and KC-10A Extender in worldwide operations. He has served in a variety of key squadron leadership positions and has experience at the group, wing, center, Air Staff, and Combatant Command levels. He is a command pilot and evaluator with over 3000 hours and 1,100 combat hours in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Education
1999 Bachelor of Science, Engineering Physics, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach, Fla. 1999 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2000 Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2001 Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Texas 2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 2008 Master of Science Degree, Space Science, American Military University, Va. 2011 Master of Science Degree, Logistics, Air Force Institute of Technology, Ohio
2011 School of Advanced Study of Air Mobility, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. 2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2020 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
Awards
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster Joint Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Combat Action Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1999
First Lieutenant June 2, 2001
Captain June 2, 2003
Major March 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 2014
Colonel January 1, 2022 (Current as of June 2025)