Col. Richard K. Kind serves as the deputy commander, 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott Air Force Base. He leads more than 3,100 personnel who provide aeromedical evacuation for patients, and operational support airlift for high priority passengers and cargo with a fleet of 14 C-21 aircraft. Assisting the wing in this mission is its Associate Partner, the 932nd Airlift Wing (Reserve), with its four C-40 aircraft. Additionally, the 375th Air Mobility Wing and the Illinois Air National Guard’s 126th Air Refueling Wing are Associate Partners in executing the Rapid Global Mobility mission with eight KC-135 refueling aircraft.
The 375th Air Mobility Wing also provides showcase support to 33 mission partners including United States Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, and the Eighteenth Air Force, totaling more than 13,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, Department of Defense civilians, and contract personnel making Scott a Total Force installation.
Col Kind received his commission from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Bowling Green State University, Ohio in 2001. During his career, he has served in a variety of positions at the Squadron, Wing, Major Command, Headquarters Air Force, and Combatant Command levels. He is a command pilot with more than 3,900 hours in airlift and trainer aircraft.
Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He was responsible for optimizing, synchronizing, integrating, and prioritizing staff activities to fulfill the commander’s vision and accomplish strategic goals and objectives to provide airlift, aerial refueling, special air mission, aeromedical evacuation, and global mobility support around the world.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Arts, International Studies/Political Science, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
2008 United States Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Aerospace Safety and Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Joint and Combined Warfighting School (JPME Phase II), Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2022 Master of Strategic Studies with Grand Strategy concentration, awarded Academic Distinction, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2001–July 2002, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. July 2002–December 2002, Student, C-17 Initial Qualification Training, Altus AFB, Okla.
3. December 2002–November 2003, C-17 Pilot and Squadron Tactics Officer, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
4. November 2003–October 2004, C-17 Pilot and Training Officer, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
5. October 2004–July 2006, C-17 Aircraft Commander Pilot and Standardization/Evaluation Officer, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
6. July 2006–July 2007, C-17 Instructor Pilot and Wing Tactics Officer, 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, S.C.
7. July 2007–November 2007, C-17 Instructor Pilot and Assistant Training Flight Commander, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
8. November 2007–June 2008, Student, Weapons Instructor Course, McGuire AFB, N.J.
9. June 2008–June 2009, C-17 Weapons Instructor Pilot and Squadron Chief of Tactics, 4th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
10. June 2009–June 2010, C-17 Weapons Instructor Pilot and Squadron Chief of Standardization/Evaluation, 4th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
11. June 2010–March 2011, C-17 Weapons Instructor Pilot and Wing Executive Officer, 62d Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
12. March 2011–September 2011, C-17 Weapons Instructor Pilot and Assistant Director of Operations, 4th Airlift Squadron, JB Lewis-McChord, Wash.
13. September 2011–September 2012, West Regional Branch Chief and Operational Planner, Operations and Cyber (J3), U.S. Africa Command, Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany
14. September 2012–July 2013, North/West Regional Branch Chief and Operational Planner, Operations and Cyber (J3), U.S. Africa Command, Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany
15. July 2013–September 2014, Deputy Executive Officer and Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commander, Civil-Military Engagement, U.S. Africa Command, Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany
16. September 2014–April 2016, Operations Officer, 57th Weapons Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
17. April 2016–March 2017, Operations Officer, 621st Contingency Response Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
18. March 2017–July 2017, Acting Commander, 621st Contingency Response Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
19. July 2017–February 2018, Operations Officer, 621st Contingency Response Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
20. February 2018–June 2020, Commander, 321st Contingency Response Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
21. June 2020–July 2021, Chief, Airlift and Air Advisor/Expeditionary Readiness Branches, Headquarters Air Force Training and Readiness Directorate, Pentagon, Va.
22. July 2021–July 2022, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
23. July 2022–August 2023, Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
24. August 2022–present, Deputy Commander, 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott AFB, Ill.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2011–July 2013, North/West Regional Branch Chief and Operational Planner, Operations and Cyber (J3), U.S. Africa Command, Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, as a major
2. July 2013–September 2014, Deputy Executive Officer and Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commander, Civil-Military Engagement, U.S. Africa Command, Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, as a major
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,900
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-1A, C-17A, and C-40
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Antarctica Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star
Iraq Campaign Medal with three service stars
Humanitarian Service Medal with service star
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
(Current as of August 2023)