Major Joseph Fehrman is an Instructor of Physics in the Department of Physics and Meteorology at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. Maj Fehrman earned his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 380 in 2016 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Michigan State University.

Throughout his career, Maj Fehrman has held a variety of technical and leadership positions as a Bioenvironmental Engineer and Health Physicist, including assignments at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.; Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea; and Kadena AB, Japan. His key assignments include serving as Operations Officer at Osan AB and Environmental, Radiation, Readiness, and Training Element Chief at Kadena AB, where he managed critical programs that safeguarded the health and safety of more than 60,000 service members, civilians, and family members across 13 overseas joint bases. As an Air Force Institute of Technology master’s student at Colorado State University, Maj Fehrman conducted research on high-energy neutrons to assess radiological risks associated with future space exploration. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight Commander at Kadena AB, Japan, where he led a team of 27 personnel providing occupational and environmental health services to 13,000 workers across 148 work centers in support of the Air Force’s largest combat wing. He also served as the Pacific Air Forces’ Radiation Assessment Incident Response Team Chief, leading 11 personnel in support of U.S. Northern Command’s GUARDIAN RESPONSE exercise, ensuring the command’s homeland defense and disaster response posture.

Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence (2025)

Master of Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va. (2025)

Master of Science, Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. (2023)

Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (2021)

Bioenvironmental Engineering Officer Advanced Course, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio (2018)

Bioenvironmental Engineering Officer Course, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio (2016)

Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. (2016)

Instructor of Physics, Department of Physics and Meteorology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. (June 2026-Present)

Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight Commander, 18th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan (July 2025-June 2026)

Operations Element Chief, 18th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan (August 2023-July 2025)

Master’s Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Colorado State University, Colo. (August 2021-August 2023)

Environmental Health, Radiation, Readiness & Training Element Chief, 18th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan (September 2019-August 2021)

Operations Officer, 51st Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea (August 2018-August 2019)

Industrial Hygiene Element Chief, 22nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kans. (February 2018-August 2018)

Executive Officer, 22nd Medical Group, McConnell AFB, Kans. (September 2017-February 2018)

Bioenvironmental Engineer, 22nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kans. (June 2016-September 2017)

Meritorious Service Medal

Air and Space Commendation Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster

Air and Space Achievement Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster

Army Achievement Medal

Field Grade Officer Biomedical Specialist of the Year, 18th Wing (2025)

Company Grade Officer of the Year, 18th Medical Group (2024)

Company Grade Officer Biomedical Specialist of the Year, Pacific Air Forces (2024)

President’s Volunteer Service Award, Silver Level, AmeriCorps (2024)

Best in Master of Science Presentation Category Award, Central Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Health Physics Society (2023)

Japan Student Services Organization Scholarship (2023)

Company Grade Officer of the Year, 18th Medical Group (2020)

Junior Company Grade Officer of the Year, 18th Wing (2019)

Radiation & Nuclear Health Effects

Radiation Detection & Dosimetry

Laser & Radiation Safety

Occupational & Environmental Health