Colonel MARK E. KIMBALL

Col. Mark E. Kimball is the commander of the 28th Operations Group, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. He commands the largest operational B-1B group in the U.S. Air Force with two combat bomb squadrons and an operations support squadron that oversees airfield and airspace management, the Powder River Training Complex and Belle Fourche Electronic Scoring Site, weather support, and other B-1 aircrew training.

Prior to his current position, Col. Kimball was the Chief, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Policy Division within Deputy Directorate Strategic Stability; Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy, J5 Joint Staff at the Pentagon. He led 10 joint officers, civilians, and Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program personnel in support of Joint Staff development of nuclear policy, strategies, and military advice on nuclear matters.

Col. Kimball earned his commission in 2002 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Maryland. After completing pilot training at Sheppard AFB, Texas in 2004, he has served as an instructor pilot in all three active-duty B-1B combat squadrons and the B-1B Formal Training Unit, including as the chief of weapons and tactics for the 9th Bomb Squadron, and the Director of Operations and Commander of the 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D. He has also served as a Project Everest Fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, as part of the Air Force’s academic year 2020 Senior Developmental Education program.

EDUCATION

2002 Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park

2003 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL

2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL

2010 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV

2012 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence

2012 Master of Arts, Military and Operational Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence

2016 Master of Arts, Defense and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, RI

2016 Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, Naval War College, Newport, RI

2020 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA

2021 Air Force Fellow, Project Everest, Arlington, VA

ASSIGNMENTS

1. June 2002 – July 2003, Long Range Scheduler, Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND

2. August 2003 – December 2004, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas

3. January 2005 – March 2006, Student, B-1B Initial Qualification Course, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas

4. March 2006 – July 2009, B-1B Instructor Pilot and Assistant Flight Commander, 34th BS, Ellsworth AFB, SD

5. August 2009 – July 2010, B-1B Instructor Pilot and Flight Scheduler, 28th BS, Dyess AFB, Texas

6. July 2010 – December 2010, Student, 77th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV

7. January 2011 – October 2012, Chief, Weapons and Tactics and B-1B Instructor Pilot, 9th BS, Dyess AFB, Texas

8. November 2012 – June 2014, Executive Officer and B-1B Instructor Pilot, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas

9. June 2014 – July 2015, Influence Operations Officer, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE

10. July 2015 – September 2016, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, and Student, Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, Naval War College, Newport, RI

11. October 2016 – March 2017, Instructor Pilot and Assistant Operations Officer, 37th BS, Ellsworth AFB, SD

12. April 2017 – February 2018, Director of Operations, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD

13. March 2018 – March 2020, Commander, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD

14. March 2020 – June 2020, Deputy Commander, 28th Operations Group, Ellsworth AFB, SD

15. July 2020 – June 2021, Air Force Fellow – Project Everest, Rosslyn, VA

16. July 2021 – May 2022, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Policy Division, Joint Staff J5, Pentagon, VA

17. May 2022 – June 2023, Chief, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Policy Division, Joint Staff J5, Pentagon, VA

18. June 2023 – Present, Commander, 28th Operations Group, Ellsworth AFB, SD

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

1. June 2014 – July 2015, Influence Operations Officer, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE

2. June 2021 – June 2023, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Policy Division, Joint Staff J5, Pentagon, VA

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: command pilot

Flight hours: more than 2,550 hours including 1,251 combat hours

Aircraft flown: B-1B, T-37, T-38

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters

Aerial Achievement Medal

Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant              May 29, 2002

First Lieutenant                   May 29, 2004

Captain                                May 29, 2006

Major                                    Aug. 1, 2012

Lieutenant Colonel              Dec. 1, 2016

Colonel                                Sept. 1, 2022

 

(Current as of May 2023)