Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth R. Herringdine Jr.

Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth R. Herringdine Jr. is the Deputy Commandant, Inter-American Air Forces Academy, 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. As the Deputy Commandant, he is responsible for promoting security cooperation through technical and military education training for more than 900 students annually across military forces and governmental agencies of 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Lieutenant Colonel Herringdine entered the Air Force in 2004 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Georgia, Athens, GA. He has served as a Contracts Manager, Flight Commander, Contracting Officer, Director of Business Operations at the squadron and center level, and an in-region Foreign Area Officer. His career also includes assignments in the Education with Industry program, as an Assignment Officer at AFPC, and as an International IDE student. In 2006 and 2010, Lieutenant Colonel Herringdine deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE, and Camp Stone Herat, Afghanistan, as a Contingency Contracting Officer in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
In his previous position, Lieutenant Cololonel Herringdine was the Commander, 700th Contracting Squadron, Ramstein Air Base Germany. As Commander, he led 93 military, civilian, and local nationals as stewards of a $1 billion portfolio in support of the 86th Airlift Wing, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, 521st air Mobility Operations Wing, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, and other tenant units. In 2021, his squadron was named the Department of the Air Force’s Outstanding Operational Contracting Unit (Large) of the Year. EDUCATION 2019 – Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, VA 2016 – El Curso de Estado Mayor (IDE equivalent), Escuela Superior de Guerra, Bogotá, Colombia 2015 – Spanish Basic Course, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterrey, CA 2014 – Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence 2012 – Masters in Project Management, American Graduate University 2010 – Education with Industry, FedEx Express, Memphis, TN 2009 – Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL 2005 – Air & Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL 2003 – Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Real Estate, University of Georgia ASSIGNMENTS
1.July 2022 - Present, Deputy Commandant, Inter-American Air Forces Academy (IAAFA), Joint BaseSan Antonio, Lackland, TX
2.July 2019 – June 2022, Commander, 700th Contracting Squadron, 86th AW, Kapaun Air Station,Germany
3.December 2016 – June 2019, Deputy Chief, Air Force Mission, Bogotá, Colombia
4.January 2016 – November 2016, IDE Student, Curso de Estado Mayor, Escuela Superior de Guerra,Bogotá, Colombia
5.June 2015 – December 2015, Student, Spanish Basic Course, Defense Language Institute,Monterrey, CA
6.May 2014 – May 2015, Chief, Contracting Officer Assignments, Headquarters Air Force PersonnelCenter. Joint Base San Antonio – Randolph, TX
7.May 2013 – May 2014, Contracting Officer Assignments, Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center,Joint Base San Antonio – Randolph, TX
8.August 2010 – April 2013, Contracting Officer, Airborne Networks, Air Force Material Command,Hanscom AFB, MA
9.September 2009 – July 2010, Student, Education with Industry, Memphis, TN
10.March 2008 – August 2009, Contracting Officer, Detachment 5, Air Force Central Command,Muscat, Oman
11.February 2006 – February 2008, Flight Commander, 2d Contracting Squadron Barksdale AFB, LA
12.February 2004 – February 2006, Contract Management Officer, 2d Contracting Squadron, BarksdaleAFB, LA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
General Rafael Reyes Prieto Cultura Fisica Award
Meritorious Service Medal w/two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal w/one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal w/two service stars
NATO Medal