Colonel 446TH MAINTENANCE GROUP COMMANDER

Colonel Robert A. Griffith is commander of the 446th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. As Group Commander, he is responsible for directing all aircraft and equipment maintenance support for three squadrons of C-17 Globemaster III aircraft as well as the quality and quantity of training for over 700 Reservists, ensuring they are prepared to perform the wing's mission in peacetime and during combat.

Colonel Griffith was born and raised in California. He graduated from Casa Roble High School in 1985. In 1996, he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from Sonoma State University, Calif.  After 13 years as a Guidance and Control technician and as a Flying Crew Chief on the C-141B Starlifter aircraft, he received his commission in September 1998, upon completion of the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tenn. In 2010, he earned his Master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College in residence at Maxell AFB, Ala. Colonel Griffith has deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

EDUCATION
1996 Bachelors of Arts, Geography, Sonoma State University, Calif.
2001 Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Master of Science, Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2018 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS
  1. October 1985 – November 1985, student, USAF Basic Military Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas
  2. December 1985 – May 1986, student, USAF Technical School Training Squadron, Chanute AFB, Ill.
  3. May 1986 – June 1997, Avionics Technician, 349th Aircraft Generation Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
  4. June 1997 – September 1998, Avionics Technician, 433th Aircraft Generation Squadron, Kelly AFB, Texas
  5. September 1998 – June 2001, Officer in Charge, Transportation Section, 433rd Logistics Support Squadron, Kelly AFB, Texas (January 2000 – May 2000, Action Officer, Headquarters, U.S. Southern Command J4, Miami, Fla.)
  6. June 2001 – August 2003, Aircraft Maintenance Operations Officer, 911th Maintenance Squadron, Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, Pa.
  7. August 2003 – September 2007, Aircraft Maintenance Operations Officer, 507th Maintenance Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.(March 2006 – September 2006, KMO, Pol-Mil Integration Directorate, Headquarters, CFC-Afghanistan)
  8. September 2007 – August 2010, Commander, 512th Maintenance Operations Flight, Dover AFB, Del.  (August 2008 – January 2009, Maintenance Operations Officer, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
  9. August 2010 – May 2011, Commander, 910th Maintenance Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio
  10. May 2011 – May 2015, Commander, 910th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio (October 2013 – February 2014, Officer in Charge, KC-10 Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates)
  11. August 2015 – October 2017, Maintenance Operations Officer, 403rd Maintenance Group, Keesler AFB, Miss.
  12. October 2017 – September 2019, Deputy Commander, 307th Maintenance Group, Barksdale AFB, La. (September 2018 – May 2019, Deputy Commander, 5th Maintenance Group, Minot AFB, N.D.)
  13. August 2019 – January 2023, Commander, 307th Maintenance Group, Barksdale AFB, La.
  14. January 2023 – Present, Commander, 446th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
    
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three devices
Air Force Commendation Medal with two devices
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with four devices
National Defense Service Medal with device
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with device
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and two devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal, gold hourglass and six “M” devices

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Sept. 24, 1998
First Lieutenant Sept. 24, 2000
Captain Sept. 24, 2002
Major April 30, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 21, 2014
Colonel June 1, 2020

(Current as of January 2023)