Col. Matthew J. Ihlenfeld is the Commander, 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, California. Col. Ihlenfeld is a 2001 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. Upon completing pilot training, he flew KC-135s on active duty and deployed five times in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. He joined the Air Force Reserve in 2006 and continued to fly KC-135s at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana, where he participated in Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR.
Later, Col. Ihlenfeld served a variety of roles within the Directorate of Plans, Programs and Requirements, Office of the Air Force Reserve, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., to include Deputy Chief, Programs and Requirements Division, where he was responsible for coordinating Air Force Reserve operational requirements, mission area planning, and budgetary requests with the Headquarters Air Staff. He returned to flying KC-135s at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana, and surpassed one hundred and ten career combat missions during his last deployment supporting Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.
Subsequently, Col. Ihlenfeld has held numerous leadership and command positions including Commander, 459th Operations Group, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, and, most recently, Director, Air Operations, Plans, and Programs, 4th Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, California, prior to assuming his current position.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Co.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Doctor of Jurisprudence, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Bloomington, Ind.
2013 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Air Force Reserve Component Chief of Safety Course, Minneapolis-Saint Paul Air Reserve Station, Minn.
2019 Mobility Commander Tactics Course, Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, Mo.
2019 Nuclear Leadership Course, Scott AFB, Ill.
2019 Air Force Reserve Command Squadron Commander Course, Robins AFB, Ga.
2020 Nuclear 200 Nuclear Fundamentals Course, Kirkland AFB, N.M.
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Air Force Reserve Command Wing and Group Commanders Orientation Course, Robins AFB, Ga.
2022 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlbert AFB, Fl.
2022 Senior Leader Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2001 – April 2002, Assistant Swim Coach and Physical Education Instructor, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2. April 2002 – January 2003, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
3. January 2003 – January 2004, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
4. January 2004 – August 2006, Pilot, Flight Scheduler, and, later, Executive Officer, 905th Air Refueling Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
5. August 2006 – August 2012, Pilot and, later, Instructor Pilot, and Assistant Flight Commander, 72d Air Refueling Squadron, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind.
6. August 2012 – June 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. June 2013 – February 2014, Instructor Pilot and Assistant Flight Commander, 72d Air Refueling Squadron, Grissom ARB, Ind.
8. February 2014 – February 2017, Chief, Tactical Airlift Requirements, later Chief, Strategic Airlift/OSA Programmer, and, lastly, Deputy Chief, Programs and Requirements Division, Directorate of Plans, Programs and Requirements, Office of Air Force Reserve, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
9. March 2017 – September 2018, Assistant Director of Operations, 72d Air Refueling Squadron, Grissom ARB, Ind.
10. September 2018 – February 2019, Director of Operations, 452d Operations Support Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
11. February 2019 – August 2021, Commander, 336th Air Refueling Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
12. August 2021 – August 2024, Commander, 459th Operations Group, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
13. August 2024 – July 2026, Director, Air Operations, Plans, and Programs, 4th Air Force, March ARB, Calif.
14. July 2026 – Present, Commander, 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,600
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-1, KC-135R/T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster