Col Reed Kastner is the Deputy Commander, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia. The composite wing includes a wide array of combat Air Force capabilities including precision strike, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and combat search and rescue in direct support of U.S. Air Forces Central and U.S. Central Command priorities. The wing is comprised of the 1st Expeditionary Rescue Group, two staff directorates and 13 additional operational and support function squadrons with more than 2,100 total force Airmen.
Col Kastner commissioned in 2003 after graduating from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. He is an F-15E Weapon Systems Officer with over 2,300 flight hours, including over 500 combat hours. His flying qualifications include Instructor, Evaluator, and Mission Commander. Prior to his current position, Col Kastner served as an Air Force Functional Capabilities Board Chair in Air Force Futures, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
2010 Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Master of Military Studies, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
2022 National Laboratory Fellowship, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Ill.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2003 - August 2005, Student Navigator, Joint
Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
2. August 2005 - June 2006, F-15E Student WSO, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
3. June 2006 – May 2009, F-15E Instructor WSO, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
4. May 2009 – April 2012, Director of Staff and F-15E Evaluator WSO, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
5. April 2012 – July 2015, Assistant Director of Operations and F-15E Evaluator WSO/Mission Commander, 494th Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England
6. July 2015 – June 2016, Student, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, MCB Quantico, Va.
7. June 2016 – June 2018, Executive Assistant and Operations Officer, Deputy Directorate for Nuclear, Homeland Defense, and Current Operations (J-33), Operations Directorate, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. June 2018 – September 2018, Assistant Director of Operations, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
9. September 2018 – April 2019, Director of Operations, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
10. April 2019 – January 2020, Deputy Commander, 4th Operations Group, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
11. January 2020 – June 2021, Commander, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
12. July 2021 – June 2022, Air Force Fellow, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Ill.
13. June 2022 – Present, Chair, Air Force Functional Capabilities Boards, Air Force Futures (A5/7), Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2016 – June 2018, Executive Assistant and Operations Officer, Deputy Directorate for Nuclear, Homeland Defense, and Current Operations, Operations Directorate, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 2,300, including more than 500 combat hours Aircraft Flown: T-34, T-1, T-39, T-38, F-15E
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2010 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2016 Distinguished Graduate, Marine Corps Command and Staff College
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2003
First Lieutenant May 28, 2005
Captain May 28, 2007
Major October 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2016
Colonel May 1, 2022
(Current as of Jul 2023)