Col. Kellie S. Courtland is the Commander of the 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. In this position she leads the largest, most diverse training wing in the Air Force known as the “Gateway to the Air Force.” The wing provides foundational training and education to develop multi-capable Airmen, Guardians and sister service members; strengthens and sustains U.S. and international partnerships through English language and special skills training for allied forces; and is the Department of War’s executive agent for the Military Working Dog program. The 37th Training Wing is comprised of the 737th Training Group, which trains 100% of the Air Force and Space Force enlisted members in Basic Military Training; the 37th Training Group which provides technical training in 18 different career fields; the 937th Training Group which delivers medical readiness and education training; the Inter-American Air Forces Academy which promotes security cooperation principles through the delivery of professional military education and technical training in Spanish; and the 637th Training Group, known as Defense Language Institute English Language Center, which provides English language training and cultural immersion to more than 3,500 international military students annually.
Col. Courtland enlisted in the Air Force in 1990 as a Services Specialist. During her enlisted time, she served as a Master Military Training Instructor “Blue Rope” and Air Education and Training Command Master Instructor at Lackland Air Force Base. She commissioned in 2002 through Officer Training School. Her degrees include an undergraduate degree from Wayland Baptist University, master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma and the National Defense University, and a Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management from Penn State University. She is certified as a Level II Life Cycle Logistician and Level I Program Manager through the Defense Acquisition University.
Prior to her current position, Col. Courtland was the deputy commander of the 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Psychology in Industrial / Personnel Human Relations; Wayland Baptist University, Texas
2002 Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2003 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2003 Logistics Readiness Officer Basic Course, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2007 Master of Liberal Studies, Administrative Leadership, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2010 Graduate Certificate, Supply Chain Management, Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2012 Advanced Logistics Readiness Officers Course, Fort Dix, New Jersey
2015 Legislative Fellowship, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C
2021 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, The Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2002 – June 2003, War Readiness Element Officer in Charge, 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron; Ramstein Air Base, Germany
2. June 2003 – June 2004, Air Terminal Operations Center Duty Officer, 723rd Air Mobility Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
3. July 2004 – July 2005, Sub Area Petroleum Office & Installation Food Servicer Officer in Charge, 612th Air Base Squadron; Soto Cano AB, Honduras
4. July 2005 – July 2006, Operations Flight Commander, 737th Training Support Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
5. July 2006 – July 2007, Field Training Flight Commander, 737th Training Support Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas
6. July 2007 – July 2008, Executive Officer to the Commander, 37th Training Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas
7. July 2008 – July 2009, Installation Deployment Officer; 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
8. July 2009 – July 2011, Logistics Career Broadening Officer, Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Virginia
9. July 2011 – April 2012, Chief, Manpower & Organizations Branch, Directorate of Logistics, Headquarters Air Force; Washington, D.C.
10. April 2012 – May 2012, Student, Advanced Logistics Readiness Officers Course, Fort Dix, New Jersey
11. May 2012 – July 2013, Chief, Logistics Functional Area Manager, Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2013 – May 2015, Defense Legislative Fellow assigned to Senator Roy Blunt, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2015 – June 2017, Commander, 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Missouri
14. June 2017 – June 2019, Commander, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
15. July 2019 – July 2021, Director, Commander’s Action Group, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
16. July 2021 – July 2022, student, The Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
17. July 2022 – July 2024, Present, Military Deputy for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington D.C.
18. July 2024 – May 2026, Deputy Commander, 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
19. May 2026 – to Present, Commander, 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Master Military Training Instructor, Basic Military Training
Master Military Instructor, Air Education and Training Command
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 24, 2002
First Lieutenant May 24, 2004
Captain May 24, 2006
Major March 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel February 1, 2017
Colonel April 1, 2023
(Current as of May 2026)