Colonel Kenneth W. Jensen is the Commander of the 459th Maintenance Group, 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Colonel Jensen is responsible for equipping, training, and ensuring the combat readiness of more than 290 personnel assigned to the Group and two subordinate units consisting of the 459th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the 459th Maintenance Squadron, the Maintenance Operations Section, and the Quality Assurance Section. He provides oversight and directs maintenance activities for eight KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft, support equipment, and maintenance facilities supporting Air Mobility Command's and Air Force Reserve Command's worldwide air refueling and nuclear enterprise missions.
Prior to assuming his current position, Colonel Jensen was a student at the US Army War College, where he earned a Master of Strategic Studies Degree. He previously served as a Politico-Military planner in the Joint Staff J5, where he was responsible for all national security strategy formulation and policy for the Horn of Africa, conducting direct liaison with the National Security Council, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Combatant Commands, the interagency, and foreign defense attachés. Within aircraft maintenance, he most recently served as commander of the 459th Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Colonel Jensen also served as the maintenance operations officer on multiple airframes, including the KC-135R, C-130J, EC-130H, MQ-1 and MQ-9. He also served as flight commander and operations officer of multiple nuclear-capable units including depot, mobility, and NATO nuclear strike. Colonel Jensen also served as a technical nuclear inspector on DoD-level nuclear surety inspections with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. He has deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom's Sentinel.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Studio Art, California State University, Sacramento
2000 Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2000 Nuclear Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2003 Master of Public Administration, University of Okla.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2019 Joint Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2019 Air War College, by correspondence
2021 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2022 Master of Strategic Studies, US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1996 – July 1997, Student, Ground Radio Maintenance technical training, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2. July 1997 – July 2000, Ground Radio Maintenance Technician, Detachment 1, 755th Communications Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
3. July 2000 – October 2000, Student, Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
4. October 2000 – October 2002, Weapons Maintenance Flight Commander, 896th Munitions Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
5. October 2002 – March 2003, Quality Assurance Flight Commander, 896th Munitions Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. March 2003 – October 2003, Maintenance Operations Officer, 896th Munitions Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. October 2003 – November 2006, Technical Nuclear Inspector, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
8. November 2006 – September 2007, Chief of Weapons Safety, 702nd Munitions Support Squadron, Büchel Airbase, Germany
9. September 2007 – June 2014, Staff Officer, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
10. June 2014 – September 2016, Maintenance Operations Officer, 459th Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
11. January 2016 – July 2016, Operations Officer, 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Southwest Asia
12. September 2016 – May 2018, Commander, 459th Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
13. May 2018 – July 2021, Pol-Mil Planner, Deputy Directorate for Pol-Mil Affairs Africa, Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J5), Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
14. July 2021 – June 2022, Student U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
15. Jul 2022 – Present, Commander, 459th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2018 – July 2021, Pol-Mil Planner, Deputy Directorate for Pol-Mil Affairs Africa - Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J5), Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 Federal Employee of the Year, New Mexico Federal Executive Board
2019 LTG Paul G. Cerjan Distinguished Writing Award, Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jul 7, 2000
First Lieutenant Jul 7, 2002
Captain Jul 7, 2004
Major Nov 10, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel Sep 12, 2017
Colonel Sept 8, 2022
(Current as of Nov 2022)