Lieutenant Colonel John T. Franz, Class of 1993
Colonel Franz’ career with the United States Army began at the West Point Military Academy, where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Aeronautical Systems.
In 2001 Col. Franz graduated from the United States Army Aviation Center as a UH-60 helicopter operator. Two years after that he would serve his first of three combat tours in Afghanistan, flying countless missions as the pilot of a Blackhawk helicopter.
In 2017 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was appointed as commander of the U.S. Army Aviation Battalion at Camp Zama, Japan. During his time in the Army, Col. Franz was awarded 26 medals for his service, including two Bronze Stars, two Air Medals and three Meritorious Service Medals. He retired from the Army after serving more than 28 years.
Col. Franz has worked with and supported families and soldiers through the Family and Soldiers Readiness Group at Camp Zama, Japan and has also been very active in numerous churches as both a leader and Sunday School teacher.
Col. Franz now lives in Corpus Christi, Texas with his wife Tracy.