Capt Eli Parsch is an Instructor of Physics in the Department of Physics and Meteorology at the U.S. Air Force Academy, CO. He entered the Air Force in 2016 after receiving his commission and a B.S. in Physics from the U.S. Air Force Academy. In 2024 he received his M.S. in Applied Physics from the Air Force Institute of Technology.

While at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Capt Parsch worked on a project developing an ion detector for use in orbit and another project characterizing glints from satellites and space debris. At the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), he produced a model of ionization enhancements and their occurrence rates in the ionosphere that was given to Air Force Research Laboratory Scientists for implementation.

After commissioning, he graduated Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, MS in 2017 and was selected to fly the C-5M Super Galaxy. He completed C-5M Pilot Initial Qualification at Lackland AFB, TX and joined the 9^th Airlift Squadron at Dover AFB, DE in 2018. While at Dover, he served as a pilot scheduler, squadron executive officer, operations group executive officer and commanded upwards of 15 crewmembers while executing airlift missions around the world and in combat. He also served as an Instructor Pilot teaching pilots how to both operate the C-5M and lead the aircrew essential for its operation.

Master of Science, Applied Physics, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio (2024)

Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama (2021)

Bachelor of Science, Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado (2016)

Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio (2022-2024)

Operations Group Executive Officer, Instructor Aircraft Commander, C-5M, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware (2021-2022)

Squadron Executive Officer, Aircraft Commander, C-5M, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware (2020-2021

Pilot Scheduler, Pilot, C-5M, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware (2019-2020)

Training Liaison Officer, Pilot, C-5M, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware (2018-2019)

Student Pilot, T-6 & T-1, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi (2016-2018)

Air Medal (2022)

Air and Space Commendation Medal (2022)

Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Distinguished Graduate (2017)

Space Physics

Astrophysics and Observational Astronomy