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Keith Kries

Keith Kries (born c. 1957) is a retired United States Air Force general. He served as Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, and to the Commander of Eighth Air Force, and to the Commander, Joint Functional Component Command, Global Strike, at United States Strategic Command. He previously served as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations, at the headquarters of United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea in Seoul, Korea.

Education

Kries received his commission graduating from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree. He earned his Master's Degree in Aeronautical Science and his Master's in Business Administration in Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His military education includes Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College. He also completed all four levels of nuclear academics taught at the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Kirtland AFB, NM.

Air Force career

In 1980, Kries graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, MS. His first operational assignment was as a pilot flying the C-141 Starlifter at Norton AFB, CA. His upgraded to aircraft commander, instructor aircraft commander, and flight examiner while assigned to the 14th Military Airlift Squadron and the 63rd Military Airlift Wing. He also qualified as formation lead in airdrop and air refueling. He transferred to the Air Force Reserve in 1986 with an assignment to the 730th Military Airlift Squadron at Norton AFB. In 1994, he continued flying duties with assignments to the 89th Airlift Squadron and 356th Airlift Squadron at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Throughout this time period, he flew airlift missions supporting numerous humanitarian operations and combat support missions including Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Urgent Fury, Allied Force, and U.S. support to the United Kingdom during the Falklands Island campaign.

Leadership assignments included commander of the 356th Airlift Squadron (1999-2002) and vice wing commander of the 445th Airlift Wing (2002-2005.) This time period included operations supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The wing airlifted hundreds of detainees from Southwest Asia to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In mid-2005, these assignments were followed by an assignment as vice commander of Fourth Air Force at March Air Reserve Base, CA, responsible for 14 airlift, air refueling, and air mobility wings in the Air Force Reserve. He deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and other locations in this Area of Responsibility as Deputy Director, U.S. Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center (2005-2006.)

http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/108341/major-general-keith-d-kries.aspx