Col. Aaron J. Strode is the Deputy Commander of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas – one of the Air Force’s three core tanker wings. He assists the commander in leading almost 3,000 active-duty Airmen to provide all-weather, in-flight aerial refueling for U.S. and allied military aircraft, and global reach airlift for the rapid and precise projection of troops, equipment and supplies worldwide, supporting global contingency, conventional operations and U.S. Strategic Command’s operational plans.
Col. Strode commissioned from Officer Training School in November 2002 and completed Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in August 2004. His service is marked by key positions at the wing and headquarters levels, to include C-17 Formal Training Unit Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Wing Current Operations and at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Deputy Panel Chair and Chief, Tanker Requirements Branch. He is a graduate of Air Mobility Command’s Phoenix Reach program and commanded the 92nd Operations Support Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash. Prior to his current position, the Colonel was the Director of Operations, Plans and Training, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
Col. Strode is a Joint Qualified Officer and veteran of multiple deployments. He has flown in support of combat operations over Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and the Horn of Africa, accumulating over 3,500 hours of flight time, to include more than 1,000 combat hours.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bryan College, Dayton, Tenn.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Master of Business Administration, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2022 Joint Combined Warfighting School (JPME-II), Norfolk, Va.
2023 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina Kenan-Flager School of Business, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2023 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Level IV Anti-Terrorism Executive Seminar, McClean, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
- December 2002 – December 2003, Transition Officer and Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 479th Flying Training Group, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
- January 2004 – August 2004, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, Miss.
- September 2004 – December 2004, Student, C-17A Initial Qualification Training, Altus AFB, Okla.
- January 2005 – February 2009, C-17A Instructor Pilot, Standardization and Evaluation Officer, Executive Officer and Flight Commander, 14th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
- February 2009 – April 2012, C-17A Formal Training Unit Evaluator Pilot and Wing Executive Officer, Altus AFB, Okla.
- April 2012 – June 2014, KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot, Assistant Operations Officer, and Chief, Wing Current Operations, 349th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
- July 2014 – June 2015, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2015 – March 2016, Deputy Chair, Personnel and Training Panel, Directorate of Plans and Integration, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel & Services (HAF/A1), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- March 2016 – October 2017, Chief, Tanker Requirements Branch, Directorate of Operational Capability Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements (HAF/A5/8), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- November 2017 – March 2018, KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot, Assistant Operations Officer, 384th Air Refueling Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
- March 2018 – April 2019, Operations Officer, 384th Air Refueling Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
- April 2019 – March 2021, Commander, 92nd Operations Support Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
- March 2021 – June 2023, Deputy Chief, Plans Group and Joint Planner, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
- July 2023 – June 2024, Director, Operations, Plans, and Training, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
- June 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- March 2021 – June 2023, Deputy Chief, Plans Group and Joint Planner, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Naval Station Norfolk, Va., as a Lieutenant Colonel
- July 2023 – June 2024, Director, Operations, Plans, and Training, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Naval Station Norfolk, Va., as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,500
Aircraft flown: T-6A, T-1A, C-17A, KC-135R/T, KC-46A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 8, 2002
First Lieutenant November 8, 2004
Captain November 8, 2006
Major November 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 2017
Colonel September 1, 2023
(Current as of June 2024)