CMSgt Kelly M. Kruger is the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB, Florida. As the Command Chief, Chief Kruger is the primary advisor to the wing commander on all matters of morale, welfare, professional development, discipline and utilization of 820 enlisted Airmen. Additionally, she works with group and squadron senior enlisted leaders and first sergeants to oversee the readiness, health, morale, welfare and quality of life of enlisted personnel.
Chief Kruger enlisted in the Air Force in September of 1996. She completed technical training as a Services Apprentice at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in April 1997. Following technical training, she served at the 914th Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls, New York, until 2005 when she was selected for a position as a Services Combat Training Instructor at HQ Air Force Reserve Command. In 2010, Chief Kruger went on to serve at the 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio for the next seven years as the Sustainment Services Flight Superintendent and Force Support Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader. From 2017 to 2020, she served as the Chief Enlisted Manager for the HQ AFRC A1, Manpower, Personnel and Services directorate, Robins AFB, Georgia. Prior to her current assignment, Chief Kruger was the 482d Mission Support Group Senior Enlisted Leader, Homestead ARB, Florida.
Throughout her 26-year career, Chief Kruger has served in Air Reserve Technician, Active Guard/Reserve, and Traditional Reserve roles. She has participated in numerous tours of duty to various locations world-wide, joint exercises, Innovative Readiness Training projects and has mobilized and deployed in direct support of Operations NOBLE EAGLE, IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
2002 Airmen Leadership School, by correspondence
2005 Instructor Certification Course, HQ Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2011 Associate in Applied Science, Hospitality Management, Community College of the Air Force
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Joint PME, by correspondence
2014 Air Force Reserve Command Chief Orientation Course, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
2015 Personnel Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2016 Associate in Applied Science, Human Resource Mgmt, Community College of the Air Force
2016 Air Force Continuous Process Improvement Senior Leaders Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2017 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2017 Chief Leadership Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2017 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration Management, Park University, Mo.
2019 Senior Enlisted Joint PME II Course, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- April 1997 – September 20115, Services Technician, 914th SVF, Niagara Falls IAP-ARS, N.Y.
(Mobilized September 2001 – October 2001, Port Mortuary, Dover AFB, De.)
(Mobilized March 2003 – January 2004, Services Specialist, 439th Airlift Wing, Westover ARB, Ma.)
(Deployed January 2005 – June 2005, Services Specialist, 380th Expeditionary Services Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, UAE.)
- October 2005 – April 2010, Services Combat Training Instructor, HQ Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga., with duty at Dobbins ARB, Ga.
- May 2010 – August 2014, Services Senior Enlisted Leader, 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
(Deployed September 2011 – April 2012, Sustainment Flight Chief, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan Republic)
- September 2014 – July 2017, FSS Senior Enlisted Leader, 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB Ohio
- July 2017 – June 2020, A1 Chief Enlisted Manager, 3F0/8G1/8C0 Functional Manager, Manpower, Personnel and Services Directorate, HQ Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
- June 2020 – April 2022, Mission Support Group Senior Enlisted Leader, 482d Fighter Wing, Homestead ARB, Fla.
- April 2022 – Present, Command Chief, 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman July 8, 1997
Airman First Class March 1, 1998
Senior Airman Nov. 1, 1998
Staff Sergeant July 1, 2002
Technical Sergeant Sept. 1, 2005
Master Sergeant Nov. 1, 2010
Senior Master Sergeant Nov. 1, 2012
Chief Master Sergeant April 1, 2015
(Current as of April 2022)