Byron Muhlenberg is an active-duty officer currently assigned as the Director of Business Operations to the 35th Contracting Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan. He oversees 45 personnel providing acquisition support to both joint and bilateral Army, Navy, and Air Force operations throughout Northern Japan and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. He currently holds his unlimited Contracting Officer warrant which ensures the execution of the 35th Fighter Wing’s largest acquisitions. His previous assignments include the Defense Contract Management Agency, serving as the Space Systems Administrative Contracting Officer, and Yokota Air Base, Japan. Byron received his commission in 2014 as a distinguished graduate from United States Air Force Academy and earned his B.S. in Biology and a minor in Japanese. He completed his MBA from the University of Southern California in 2021. His co-authored article, “Opening the Door to Cultural Understanding and Mutual Cooperation: Multinational Military Partnerships and Educational Outreach,” was recently published in Air University’s Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs.