Colonel Robert Kline is Deputy Commander, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. The wing, comprised of over 4,300 Airmen, coalition, and joint partners at six geographically separated locations, provides air mobility, precision strike, personnel recovery, electronic attack, logistics operations, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets in support of operations through Southwest Asia. Approximately 300 of the wing’s Airmen are filling Joint Expeditionary Taskings in support of U.S. Army combat support requirements at forward operating bases in Southeast Asia.
Most recently he served as the Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection for the Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. During this time he provided policy, guidance, and resources to enable combat mission support organizing, training, and equipping activities for aerospace expeditionary missions, homeland security operations, civil support, national special security events and ceremonial events in support of Air Force and Joint Task Force Headquarters-National Capital Region, Combatant Commanders and NCR customers, including the President of the United States, Joint Staff, Military Departments and other federal and civil agencies.
Colonel Kline entered the Air Force in 2002 earning his commission from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Communication from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Business Administration degree from TUI University, California, and Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the Air University.
Colonel Kline is a Command Pilot with more than 3,000 hours in the KC-135R/T, C-130H, T-1, and T-37 aircraft. He has deployed in support of operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, ODESSEY DAWN, and UNIFIED PROTECTOR.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Art in Political Science and Communications, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence 2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2009 Master of Business Administration, TUI University, Cypress, CA.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence.
2015 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
October 2002 – July 2004, STUDENT, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, TX
July 2004 – October 2007, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, STAND/EVAL LIAISON OFFICER, SQUADRON DISPATHER, and KC-135R/T AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, 351st Air Refueling Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK.
October 2007-July-2008, WING SCHEDULER and INSTRUCTOR PILOT, 100th Operations Support Squadron,
RAF Mildenhall, UK.
July 2008 – January 2010, FLIGHT COMMANDER, ASSISTANT CHIEF of TRAINING, KC-135R/T INSTRUCTOR PILOT, 92d Air Refueling Squadron, Fairchild AFB, WA.
January 2010 – September 2011, GROUP EXECUTIVE OFFICER and KC-135R/T EVALUATOR PILOT, 92d Operations Group, Fairchild AFB, WA.
September 2011 – March 2012, STUDENT, C-130H INITIAL QUALIFICATION, 714th Training Squadron, Little Rock AFB, AR
March 2012 – May 2013, CHIEF of SAFETY, C-130H AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, 61st Airlift Squadron, Little Rock, AR.
May 2013 – July 2014, ASSISTANT OPERATIONS OFFICER, 91st Operations Support Squadron, Little Rock AFB, AR.
July 2014 – June 2015, STUDENT, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
June 2015 – August 2017, C2 STRATEGY BRANCH CHIEF, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL
August 2017 – April 2018, OPERATIONS OFFICER, 821st Contingency Response Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
April 2018 – May 2019, OPERATIONS OFFICER, 821st Contingency Response Support Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
May 2019 – May 2021, COMMANDER, 921st Contingency Response Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
June 2021 – July 2022, EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO THE COMMANDER, Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, MD
July 2022 – July 2023, DIRECTOR OF LOGISTICS, ENGINEERING AND FORCE PROTECTION, Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, MD
July 2023 - Present, STUDENT, National War College, National Defense University, Ft McNair, Washington D.C.
August 2024 - Present, Deputy Commander, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: over 3,000
Aircraft flown: KC-135R/T, C-130H, T-1, T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal, with 6 Oak leaf clusters
Air Medal, with 4 Oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award, with 3 Oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and 7 Oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal, with 2 Oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, with Oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, with 4 Oaf leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service, with 4 Oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, with Star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2002
First Lieutenant May 28, 2004
Captain May 28, 2006
Major June 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2017
Colonel September 1, 2023
(CURRENT AS OF 8 May 2024)