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Colonel KENDA M. GARRETT

Col Kenda M. Garrett is the Deputy Commander, 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas National Guard, located on Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.  As the Deputy Commander, Col. Garrett advises the commander in directing the combined efforts of all operations and support activities of the wing.  She provides direction to wing leaders regarding combat-ready aircrew training, cyberspace operations, deployment readiness, and domestic emergency response.  Col Garrett is responsible for the readiness, training and safety of 1,000 Airmen across wing staff, four groups and 11 squadrons.  She works in concert with the 19th Airlift Wing (AMC), the 314th Airlift Wing (AETC) and 913th Airlift Group (AFRC).     

Col. Garrett is originally from Vermont and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2002, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering with a minor in French.  She attended Undergraduate Navigator Training at Pensacola NAS, Florida, immediately followed by Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, and Corpus Christi NAS, Texas.  Her first assignment beginning in June 2005 was C-12F/J copilot, aircraft commander, instructor pilot, scheduling, training, and safety officer in the 517th Airlift Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.  From September 2008 to August 2012 she was assigned to the 50th Airlift Squadron and deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, OPERATION NEW DAWN and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.  Following that assignment, she was assigned to the 62nd Airlift Squadron as a C-130H Formal Training Unit Instructor Pilot.  In April 2014, she transitioned to the Arkansas Air National Guard where she is a C-130H Evaluator Pilot.  She is a Command Pilot with more than 3500 flying hours of military flying time.  She has flown the T-34, T-1, T-39, T-37, C-12D, C-12F, and C-12J, C-130E, and C-130H variants aircraft.

EDUCATION

2002      Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.                                         

2009      Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., in residence 

2011      Masters of Aviation Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla.

2012       Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

2020       Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence                                            

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. August 2002 – February 2004, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, VT-4 and VT-86, Pensacola NAS, Fla.
  2. February 2004 – May 2005, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 71th Flying Training Wing, Vance AFB, Okla. and VT-35, Corpus Christi NAS, Texas
  3. June 2005 – August 2008, C-12F/J Pilot/Aircraft Commander/Instructor, 517th Airlift Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
  4. September 2008 – August 2012, C-130 Aircraft Commander/Instructor, 50th Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
  5. August 2012 – April 2014, C-130 Instructor, 62nd Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
  6. April 2014 – March 2017, C-130 Evaluator Pilot/Instructor Pilot, 154 Training Squadron, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
  7. March 2017 – August 2018, C-130 Operations Group Evaluator Pilot, 189th Operations Group, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
  8. August 2018 – July 2020, Chief of Standardizations/Evaluations, 189th Operations Group, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
  9. July 2020 – August 2023, Commander, 189th Operations Support Squadron, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
  10. Sep 2023 – July 2024, Chief of Staff, 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock, AFB, Ark.
  11. July 2024 – present, Deputy Commander, 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock, AFB, Ark.

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal with three devices

Air Medal with four devices

Aerial Achievement Medal

Air and Space Commendation Medal with one device

Meritorious Unit Award

Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with seven devices

Combat Readiness Medal with one device

National Defense Service Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two devices

Iraq Campaign Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal with one device

Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with one device

Air and Space Longevity Service with four devices

Air Force Training Ribbon

NATO medal

(Current as of July 2024)