Mr. John Barton “JB” Esch is the Deputy Director, Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), headquartered at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The NTTR provides warfighters a flexible, realistic and multidimensional battle-space to conduct testing, tactics development, and advanced training in support of U.S. national interests. As a Department of Defense Major Range Test Facility Base activity, NTTR hosts numerous RED FLAG and U.S. Air Force Weapons School exercises each year. The NTTR also provides instrumentation and target maintenance support for GREEN FLAG-West at the National Training Center and Leach Lake Tactics Range, California. NTTR personnel coordinate operational and support matters with Air Force Major Commands, other armed services, Departments of Energy and Interior, as well as federal, state, and local government agencies. NTTR leadership conducts intergovernmental activities with sovereign Tribal Nations.
Mr. Esch received his commission through the Air Force Officer Training School after completing an enlisted educational leave of absence. He served in the security forces, air traffic control, airfield operations, training instructor, and plans/programs career fields. His deployment history includes Operations EL DORADO CANYON, ALLIED FORCE, and multiple ENDURING FREEDOM tours. Mr. Esch commanded an Operations Support Squadron, served on Major and Combatant Command staffs, and was a fully qualified Joint Duty Officer with extensive interagency and intergovernmental experience. Following his active duty career, Mr. Esch was employed as the Airside Control Manager for Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport where he led terminal and airfield operations in support of 32 airlines at one of the world’s busiest airports. He reentered federal service as the Director of 412th Test Wing Operating Location - Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. There, he led an Air Base Group-equivalent team that supported 8,500 contract and government personnel with aircraft procurement, production, and sustainment at the largest Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated industrial complex in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Esch holds air traffic control tower and radar ratings, and is a commercially licensed pilot.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri
1995 Air Ground Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Florida
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2001 Terminal Instrument Procedures Specialist Course, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
2006 Master of Military Art and Science, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
2008 Joint Forces Staff College (JPME II), Norfolk, Virginia
2009 Homeland Defense Planner, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia
2011 Defense Support to Civil Authorities, Scott AFB, Illinois
2020 Master of Science in Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1991 - September 1993, Officer Training School, Air Traffic Control Basic and Advance Schools, Lackland AFB, Texas, Keesler AFB, Mississippi and Shaw AFB, South Carolina
2. September 1993 - March 1996, Airfield Operations Flight Commander, McChord AFB, Washington
3. March 1996 - May 1998, Airfield Operations Flight Commander, Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota
4. May 1998 - September 2001, Chief, Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems/Terminal Instrument Procedures, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Operations Directorate, Scott AFB, Illinois
5. September 2001 - September 2002, Operations Flight Commander, Joint Task Force - Bravo, Soto Cano AB, Honduras
6. September 2002 - January 2006, Chief, Airfield/Air Traffic Combat Plans and Operations, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Operations Directorate, Scott AFB, Illinois
7. January 2006 - December 2006, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
8. January 2007 - April 2009, Chief, Joint Operations Planning (USAF), Department of Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Operations, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
9. April 2009 - April 2010, Commander, 376th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan
10. May 2010 - May 2012, Chief, USNORTHCOM/USSTRATCOM Support Branch, U.S. Transportation Command, Operations Directorate, Scott AFB, Illinois
11. October 2012 - September 2013, Air Traffic Control/Terminal Instrument Procedures Specialists (as a civilian), Headquarters, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Illinois
12. September 2013 - November 2015, Airside Control Manager, McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada
13. November 2015 - June 2020, Director of 412 TW Operating Location - Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California
TDY - Air War College (2019-2020), Maxwell AFB, Alabama
14. July 2020 - Present, Vice Director, Nevada Test and Training Range, Nellis AFB, Nevada
(Current as of December 2021)