John Paul Mintz

Col. John Paul F. Mintz is a special assistant to the DARPA director and U.S. Air Force operational liaison. Prior to DARPA, Mintz was the commander of the 850th Spectrum Warfare Group, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where he led three squadrons and three locations providing electronic warfare support to the Combat Air Forces, joint and allied warfighters, planners, and Department of Defense leaders. 

He previously served as the executive officer and special advisor to NORAD deputy commander after serving as the NORAD Command Center director at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

Mintz earned his commission in 2001 through the United States Air Force Academy. He flew the F-15C for operational and operational test assignments, and has served as a squadron commander, deputy group commander, command center director, strategist, and special advisor at the tactical, operational, strategic, and binational levels. He has planned, flown, and directed multilateral and contingency missions in the Middle East, the Arctic, Asia, and in the United States for Homeland and Presidential Defense. 

He is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and holds a doctorate in Military Strategy with a focus on artificial intelligence. Mintz is a command pilot with more than 1,700 flying hours in the F-15A-EX, F-16, T-38, and T-37.