Brig. Gen. Kenneth J. Ostrat is the Director, Air Force Reserve Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He is responsible for planning and programming a force of 70,000 personnel and the flying hours for 17 types of aircraft in combat air forces; mobility air forces; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; tankers, training, weather reconnaissance and special operations. Plans, Programs and Requirements analyzes a $6.9 billion-per-year program that recommends and presents options to senior leaders and is the Air Force Reserve conduit for coordinating change with the Chief of the Air Force Reserve to meet the needs of the Air Force.
Brig. Gen. Ostrat enlisted in the Air National Guard in 1990. He graduated from San Jose State University in California and received his commission through the ANG Academy of Military Science in 1994. Prior to his current position, he served as the Inspector General, Air Force Reserve Command. In his career, he has served in numerous group, wing, numbered air force and major command-level positions. He flew search and rescue missions in the California ANG before transferring to the Air Force Reserve, where he has flown weather reconnaissance, airlift and air refueling missions. He is a command pilot with more than 4,200 hours.
Brig. Gen. Ostrat has participated in numerous contingency operations, including operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Coronet Oak, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Unified Response in Haiti, Pakistani Flood Relief, Inherent Resolve and Resolute Support.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science, Aviation Management, San Jose State University, Calif.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Master of Business Administration, William Carey University, Gulfport, Miss.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Reserve Components National Security Course, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2013 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2016 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2018 Executive Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1990–November 1994, Intelligence Specialist, 129th Rescue Squadron, Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif.
2. November 1994–November 1995, Student Pilot, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
3. November 1995–September 1996, C-130 Student Pilot, Little Rock AFB, Ark., and Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. September 1996–June 2000, Scheduler, Current Operations and Training Officer, 129th RQS, Moffett FAF, Calif.
5. June 2000–January 2002, WC-130H Instructor Pilot, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
6. January 2002–October 2004, C/WC-130J Instructor Pilot, WC-130J Program Manager and Chief of Tactics, 403rd Operations Support Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
7. October 2004–July 2008, Tactics and Tactical Airlift Training Officer, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.
8. July 2008–December 2012, Director of Operations, 357th Airlift Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. December 2012–April 2015, Commander, 514th Operations Group, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
10. April 2015–March 2017, Chief, Programs Division, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
11. March 2017–February 2020, Commander, 908th Airlift Wing, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. February 2020–December 2021, Inspector General, Headquarters AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
13. December 2021–June 2024, Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Integration and Innovation, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. June 2024–present, Director, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,200
Aircraft flown: C-130, C-17 and KC-10
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three devices
Air Medal with two devices
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with device
Air and Space Achievement Medal
(Current as of October 2024)