Captain Devon J. Ahern is the Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies and Recruiting Officer for Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 005 at Auburn University. In this capacity, he is responsible for teaching senior-level courses on leadership, supervision, mentoring, ethics, and professionalism. He also leads recruiting efforts and assists in the training and mentoring of more than 200 cadets as they prepare to become Air and Space Force officers.
Captain Ahern received his commission as a Second Lieutenant through Air Force ROTC at Samford University while attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a Senior Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot with more than 1,600 combat hours across five Combatant Commands in support of seven named operations while flying the MQ-9A Reaper. During his operational assignments, Captain Ahern served in a variety of group- and wing-level training and scheduling positions, earning his Instructor and Evaluator Pilot qualifications. Most recently, while assigned to the 25th Attack Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, Captain Ahern served as Group Executive Officer, Deputy Commander Executive Officer, and Group Director of Staff, overseeing the administrative and executive support functions for seven command teams and more than 1,500 personnel across four geographically separated locations. His decorations include the Aerial Achievement Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster.
Education
2017 Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
2025 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2025 Master of Science in International Relations/National Security Affairs, Troy University, AL
