COLONEL KEVIN M. PETERSON
Colonel Kevin M. Peterson is the Deputy Commander of
the 446th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
Washington. He ensures the readiness of more than
1,600 Reservists and civilians to support worldwide airlift
and airdrop operations. The 446th Airlift Wing flies and
supports the C-17 Globemaster III weapon system.
Partnering with active-duty, Guard and civilian agencies,
the 446th Airlift Wing provides airlift support to Operation
Deep Freeze, the National Science Foundation’s U.S.
Antarctic Program.
Col Peterson graduated with a Bachelor of Science in
Civil Engineering from the University of Florida in 1997,
and commissioned through the Air Force ROTC
program. Over 11 years of active and 17 years of reserve
service, he upgraded to Lead Airdrop Evaluator Pilot and
Weapons Officer in the C-17. The colonel has held
squadron and group level positions in operations, training,
tactics and standardization and evaluation.
Col Peterson’s deployments include several in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and DEEP FREEZE. These include squadron deployments as the Chief of Tactics and Assistant Operations Officer, and one deployment to the Combined Air Operations Center as the Deputy Chief of Air
Mobility Division Tactics. Over multiple deployments in support of Operation DEEP FREEZE, Col Peterson
served as airdrop, Night Vision Goggle, and WINFLY instructor as well as squadron Director of Operations. Prior
to his current position, the Colonel was Senior Director to FEMA Region 10.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
1999 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2005 Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NJ.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by
correspondence
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
October 1997 – May 1998, Duty Officer, 437th Airlift Wing Command Post, Charleston AFB, SC
May 1998 – May 1999, Student Pilot, 14th Flight Training Wing, Columbus AFB, Miss.
May 1999 – February 2001, C-141B Pilot, 4th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
February 2001 – November 2003, C-17 Pilot, 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
November 2003 – December 2004, Chief, Squadron Operations Center / Instructor Aircraft Commander, 7th Airlift
Squadron, McChord, AFB, Wash.
January 2005 – June 2005, Air Force Weapons School Student, McGuire AFB, NJ
June 2005 – January 2006, Assistant Operations Officer, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, SC
January 2006 – April 2007, Deputy Chief of Wing Combat Ops and Tactics, 437th OSS, Charleston AFB, SC
April 2007 – January 2008, Squadron Training Flight Commander, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, SC January 2008 –
September 2008, Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, SC
October 2008 – December 2011, Squadron Tactics Officer, 728th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
December 2011 – January 2015, Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 728th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB,
Wash. January 2015 – November 2015, Assistant Chief, Group Standardization and Evaluation, 446th Operations
Group, McChord Field, Wash.
November 2015 – October 2017, Chief Pilot, 728th Airlift Squadron, McChord Field, Wash.
October 2017 – August 2020, Commander, 97th Airlift Squadron, McChord Field, Wash.
August 2020 – June 2024, EPLO to FEMA Region X, First Air Force, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
June 2024 - Present, Senior Director to FEMA Region 10, First Air Force, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 5,100 (including more than 800 combat hours)
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, C-141B and C-17A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant October 1, 1997
First Lieutenant October 1, 1999
Captain October 1, 2001
Major May 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2014
Colonel June 1, 2020
(Current as of Nov 2025)