BRIGADIER GENERAL KIMBER L. MCKENZIE

Brig. Gen. Kimber L. McKenzie is Vice Commander, 8th Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. The command comprises 11 expeditionary wings, is the Air Force component for U.S. Strategic Command, and provides nuclear and computer network operations capability for the Air Force. The 8th Air Force is the lead numbered air force for integration of information operations; command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and Global Strike capabilities. The command trains Combined Air and Space Operations Center personnel for worldwide deployment and provides combat-ready forces to combatant commanders.

General McKenzie earned her commission as a distinguished graduate of Officers' Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas. She has served in a variety of operations positions at squadron, group, wing, air division and headquarters levels. She has also served on the Air Staff in the areas of strategy, joint and National Security Council matters, and as a member of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force's Operations Group. In programs and acquisitions, General McKenzie served as program monitor for the Airborne Warning and Control System and Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, and as the Chief of the Commander's Action Group for the Air Force Materiel Command.

General McKenzie commanded the 91st Space Wing, Minot AFB, N.D., which was the recipient of the 2001 Omaha Trophy. Prior to her current assignment, she was Director of Intelligence, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.

EDUCATION
1978 Bachelor of Arts degree in health and physical education, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg
1983 Master's degree in management, Webster University, Mo.
1984 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1985 Air Staff Training, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
1990 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1993 Air War College, by correspondence
1996 Secretary of Defense Fellowship, Princeton, N.J.
1999 Senior Military Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, New York City, N.Y.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1979 - March 1980, student, Automated Air Weapons Controller School, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2. March 1980 - June 1982, instructor weapons controller and Chief, Training, 25th Air Division, McChord AFB, Wash.
3. June 1982 - June 1983, battle manager and Chief, Standardization and Evaluation Branch, 932nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland
4. June 1983 - October 1984, student, Airborne Warning and Control System Crew Training Squadron, later, senior director and Chief, Strategy and Tactics Branch, 963rd Airborne Warning and Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
5. October 1984 - June 1985, Chief, NATO, Southern Command, Pacific Command and Central Command Contingency Plans Branch, Plans Division, 28th Air Division, Tinker AFB, Okla.
6. June 1985 - June 1986, student, Air Staff Training Program, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
7. June 1986 - August 1990, staff action officer, political-military affairs officer, strategic defense staff officer, and executive officer, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. August 1990 - July 1991, student, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. July 1991 - January 1992, Global Positioning System flight commander and Chief, Current Operations, 1st Space Operations Squadron, 2nd Space Wing, Falcon AFB, Colo.
10. January 1992 - January 1993, Deputy Director for Standardization and Evaluation, later, Deputy Commander, 50th Operations Group, 50th Space Wing, Falcon AFB, Colo.
11. January 1993 - January 1995, Commander, 4th Space Operations Squadron, 50th Space Wing, Falcon AFB, Colo.
12. January 1995 - June 1996, Air Force Chief of Staff's Operations Group member, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
13. June 1996 - June 1997, Secretary of Defense Fellowship, Princeton, N.J.
14. June 1997 - July 1998, Chief, Commander's Action Group, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
15. July 1998 - August 1999, Commander, 341st Operations Group, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
16. August 1999 - June 2000, Senior Military Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, New York City, N.Y.
17. June 2000 - May 2002, Commander, 91st Space Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.
18. June 2002 - May 2004, Director of Intelligence, U.S. Strategic Command, and Director of Information Operations, Joint Forces Headquarters, Offutt AFB, Neb.
19. May 2004 - present, Vice Commander, 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, La.

BADGES
Master Non-Rated Aircrew member
Basic Missile Operations
Master Space Operations
Weapon systems: Airborne Warning and Control System; Global Positioning System satellite; Milstar communications satellite; Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Intelligence Agency Director's Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1982 F-4 Trophy for Top Weapons Controller, William Tell Air-to-Air Competition, Tactical Air Command
1999 Blanchard Trophy for Top Missile Operations, Guardian Challenge, Air Force Space Command
2001 Blanchard Trophy for Top Missile Wing, Guardian Challenge, Air Force Space Command

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 25, 1979
First Lieutenant Aug. 25, 1981
Captain Aug. 25, 1983
Major Dec. 1, 1990
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 1993
Colonel Jan. 1, 1998
Brigadier General Nov. 1, 2003


(Current as of April 2005)