Colonel SAMUEL J. KRAEMER

Col. Samuel J. Kraemer is the Commander of the 934th Airlift Wing, Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, Minn. As the commander, Colonel Kraemer is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping combat ready Airmen able to provide tactical airlift and agile combat support to combatant commanders. The 934th Airlift Wing is comprised of three Groups (Operations, Maintenance, and Mission Support), an Aeromedical Staging Squadron, approximately 1600 Airmen, and eight C-130H aircraft. As the host installation commander, Colonel Kraemer is also responsible for the daily operations of the Air Reserve Station and the support of 5000 tenent Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines.

Col. Kraemer graduated in 1999 from the University of Portland and received his commission through ROTC.  He then attended Undergraduate Navigator Training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and received his navigator wings in October of 2000.  Col. Kraemer served in many leadership positions within tactical mobility airlift units, CONUS and OCONUS, including a deployment to Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan as an Air Advisor to create the first-ever Afghan Undergraduate Pilot Training program.  In February 2013, Col. Kraemer separated from active duty to become an Air Reserve Technician.  He then expanded his leadership experience serving in various MAJCOM A-Staff positions with duties in Contingency Planning, Strategy, and Battle Staff management.  Col. Kraemer served as the senior ART and Deputy Commander of the 713th Combat Operations Squadron before completing the Joint Advanced Warfighting School. Prior to his current assignment, Col. Kraemer was assigned as the Branch Chief for Strategy and Policy Integration with the J-7 Joint Staff at the Pentagon.

Col. Kraemer is a C-130E/H Weapons Officer and Master Navigator with over 3,000 flying hours, including 840 combat and combat support hours in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM-Philippines, IRAQI FREEDOM, and ENDURING FREEDOM.

EDUCATION

1999 Bachelor of Science in Physics, Minor in Math, University of Portland, Ore.

2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., in residence

2008 Weapons Officer School, Nellis AFB, Nev.

2010 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, by correspondence

2014 Master of Business Administration, Real Estate, Marylhurst University, Portland, Ore.

2019 Master of Science, Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, National Defense University, Norfolk, Va., in residence

ASSIGNMENTS

1. December 1999 – October 2000, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas

2. October 2000 – September 2001, C-130 Navigator Mission Qualification, Little Rock AFB, Ark.

3. September 2001 – April 2003, Mission Navigator, 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan

4. April 2003 – September 2004, Electronic Combat Officer, 374th Operational Support Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan

5. September 2004 – September 2008, Evaluator Navigator, Deputy Chief of Stan/Eval, 50th Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.

6. September 2008 – July 2009, Weapons Officer, Chief of Tactics, and Assistant Director of Operations, 19th Operational Support Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.

7. July 2009 – August 2011, FTU Evaluator Navigator and Chief of Tactics, 314th Operations Group, Little Rock AFB, Ark. (January 2011 – August 2011, Air Advisor to 444 AEAS, Shindand AB, Afghanistan)

8. August 2011 – February 2013, Chief of Plans and Programs, 314th Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, Ark.

9. February 2013 – December 2014, FTU Evaluator Navigator, Plans Officer, and Chief of Tactics, AFRC 22nd AF Detachment 1, Little Rock AFB, Ark.

10. December 2014 – September 2016, Director, Strategic Plans, Detachment 1, 713th Combat Operations Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii

11. September 2016 – July 2018, Deputy Commander, 713th Combat Operations Squadron, Beale AFB, Cali.

12. July 2018 – June 2019, Student, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.

13. June 2019 – September 2021, Branch Chief, Strategy and Policy Integration, Joint Staff J-7, The Pentagon, Washington D.C.

14. September 2021 – Present, Commander, 934th Operations Group, Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP ARS, Minn.

15. October 22, 2023 – Present, Commander, 934th Airlift Wing, Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP ARS, Minn.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Master Navigator

Flight hours: More than 3,000

Combat hours: More than 800

Aircraft Flown: C-130E, C-130H

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Air Medal, 6 Oak Leaf Clusters

Aerial Achievement Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Air Force Achievement Medal

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

19th Airlift Wing Instructor of the Year

314th Airlift Wing FGO of the Year

2x PACAF Reserve Officer of the Quarter

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant October 26, 1999

First Lieutenant October 26, 2001

Captain October 26, 2003

Major August 1, 2009

Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2015

Colonel October 1, 2021

(Current as of November 2023)