Lt Col Daniel “Coach” Coughlin is the Commander of the 23d Flying Training Squadron, Fort Novosel, Alabama. He is responsible for all training and flying operations for the USAF’s only undergraduate helicopter training unit, leading 400 total force personnel. The squadron executes the 58th Special Operations Wing’s largest flight program, totaling over 10,000 flight hours with 28 TH-1Hs and producing 176 USAF and USCG undergraduate pilots and special missions aviators annually.

He is a Command Pilot with more than 2,800 military and civilian flight hours including 260combat hours, and has served as an instructor and evaluator pilot in multiple aircraft with time in the T-37B, UH-1H, TH-1H, T-6, HH-60G and HH-60W. He is experienced in Air Force Rescue with multiple combat tours in Libya and Afghanistan operating with joint and coalition forces. He has also served as the Senior JPR Staff Officer at Headquarters Allied Air Command, NATO, Ramstein AB, Germany. He is a graduate of Air and Space Basic Course, Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Squadron Officer School, Aviation Safety Program Management Course, Advanced Principles of Instructional Design Course, Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Air Command and Staff College, Leadership Development Course for Squadron Commanders, andAir War College.