HV resident promoted to colonel in Air Force Reserve

Jeff Thurstin of Highland Village was promoted to the rank of colonel in the Air Force Reserve April 1.

Col. Thurstin grew up in Charleston, S.C., and Annandale, Va., where he graduated from high school in 1976.  He is the son of Frank and Mona Thurstin, who currently reside in Grand Forks, N.D.

The colonel is director of Reserve contracts for the western U.S. at the Defense Contract Management Agency, based in Washington.  He oversees all the contracts let on behalf of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Reserve components.

Col. Thurstin enlisted in the Air Force in 1980 and was commissioned as an officer in 1983 following completion of a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Southern Illinois University.  He also earned a Master’s of Business Administration Degree from Touro University in 2005.

After commissioning, he earned his pilot’s wings and flew C-141 Starlifter transport airplanes, participating in numerous combat and humanitarian operations.  He also served as an acceptance flight-test pilot in F-16 Fighting Falcons.

Col. Thurstin has been married to Susan Thurstin, from Fergus Falls, Minn., for more than 30 years.