Chief Master Sgt. Kelly M. Kruger is the Command Chief, 482d Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida. In this capacity, she advises the commander on issues including readiness, training, professional development, force utilization, health, morale, and welfare of 2,500 total force personnel. She also serves as the commander’s representative on councils, boards, and selected events within the military and civilian communities.
Chief Kruger enlisted in the Air Force in September of 1996. She completed technical training as a Services Apprentice at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in April 1997. Following technical training, she served at the 914th Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls, New York, until 2005 when she was selected for an Air Guard Reserve position as a Silver Flag Training Instructor with HQ Air Force Reserve Command, with duty at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. In 2010, Chief Kruger entered the Air Reserve Technician program at the 445th Airlift Wing, Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where she spent four and a half years as the Sustainment Services Flight Superintendent and two and a half years as the Force Support Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader. From 2017 to 2020, she served as the Chief Enlisted Manager and Personnel MAJCOM Functional Manager at the HQ AFRC A1, Manpower, Personnel and Services Directorate, Robins AFB, Georgia. Following her tour with HQ AFRC staff, she served as the Mission Support Group Senior Enlisted Leader at the 482d Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida. Subsequently she was the Command Chief for the 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida from 2023 to 2026. Prior to her current assignment, Chief Kruger served at Robins AFB, Georgia, as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Professional Development Center under the HQ AFRC's Directorate of Manpower, Personnel and Services.
Throughout her 28-year career, Chief Kruger has served in various ART, DAF Civilian, AGR and TR roles. She has participated in numerous tours of duty to various locations world-wide, joint exercises, Innovative Readiness Training projects and has mobilized and deployed in direct support of Operations NOBLE EAGLE, IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
2002 Airmen Leadership School, by correspondence
2005 Instructor Certification Course, HQ Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2011 Air Force Reserve Command Senior Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2011 Associate in Applied Science, Hospitality Management, Community College of the Air Force
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, by correspondence
2014 Air Force Reserve Command Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
2016 Associate in Applied Science, Human Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force
2016 Air Force Continuous Process Improvement Senior Leaders Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2017 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2017 Chief Leadership Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2017 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration Management, Park University, Mo.
2019 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, by correspondence
2021 Neuroscience for Business, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management
2023 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flager Business School, University of North Carolina, N.C.
2025 Certified in Emotional Intelligence EQ-I 2.0, John Maxwell Leadership, DiSC Behavioral Assessment
2025 Middle East & South Asia Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates
2025 Africa Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates
2026 Master of Military Operational Art & Science (Joint Warfare), Air Command & Staff College
ASSIGNMENTS
- April 1997 – September 2005, Services Technician, 914 SVF, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y. (Mobilized September 2001 – October 2001, Port Mortuary, Dover Air Force Base, De.) (Mobilized March 2003 – January 2004, Services Specialist, 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Ma.)(Deployed January 2005 – June 2005, Services Specialist, 380th Expeditionary Services Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE.)
- October 2005 – April 2010, Silver Flag Instructor, HQ Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga., with duty at Dobbins ARB, Ga.
- May 2010 – August 2014, Sustainment Services Flight Superintendent, 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (Deployed September 2011 – April 2012, Sustainment Flight Chief, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan Republic)
- September 2014 – July 2017, FSS Senior Enlisted Leader, 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
- July 2017 – June 2020, A1 Chief Enlisted Manager, 3F0/8G1/8C0 MAJCOM Functional Manager, Manpower, Personnel and Services Directorate, HQ Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
- June 2020 – April 2022, Mission Support Group Senior Enlisted Leader, 482d Fighter Wing, Homestead ARB, Fla.
- April 2022 – September 2023, Command Chief, 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla.
- September 2023 – May 2026, Senior Enlisted Leader, Professional Development Center, HQ Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
- June 2026 – Present, Command Chief, 482d Fighter Wing, Homestead ARB, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
(Current as of July 2026)