Colonel David M. Kurle is the commander of the 442nd Mission Support Group, one of three groups in the 442nd Fighter Wing, based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. Colonel Kurle is responsible for the command leadership of a four-squadron group, which encompasses emergency operations, readiness, security, construction, communications, fire protection, explosive ordnance disposal, human resources, food services, fuels, transportation, supply and Airmen and family readiness. The 442nd Mission Support Group provides base support functions for a unit-equipped, Total Force Enterprise, combat-coded A-10 Thunderbolt II unit.
Colonel Kurle received his commission in 1992 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps, after graduating from Oregon State University. Colonel Kurle logged more than 800 hours and 130 combat hours as a C-130 navigator. He has deployed numerous times in support of Operations Southern Watch, Joint Endeavor, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He entered the Air Force Reserve in 2005. Before assuming his current position in June 2016, Colonel Kurle was the commander of the 477th Force Support Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor’s of Science degree in technical journalism, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore.
2000 Squadron Officers School, by correspondence
2006 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2014 Air War College, by correspondence
2016 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1993 – January 1994, producer and director, 2nd Combat Camera Squadron, Norton AFB, Calif.
2. January 1994 – June 1994, flight commander, 2nd Combat Camera Squadron, March AFB, Calif.
3. June 1994 – May 1995, navigator student, 558th and 562nd Flying Training Squadrons, Randolph AFB, Texas
4. May 1995 – December 1995, C-130 navigator replacement training unit, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
5. December 1995 – March 1998, C-130H navigator, 39th Airlift Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
6. March 1998 – August 1998, C-130 current-operations scheduler, 317th Operations Support Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
7. August 1998 – July 1999, senior command post controller, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
8. July 1999 – July 2002, chief of media relations, Public Affairs Directorate, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
9. July 2002 – April 2005, chief of public affairs, 341st Space Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
10. April 2005 – October 2010, chief of public affairs, 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
11. October 2010 – November 2011, chief of public affairs, 301st Fighter Wing, NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas
12. November 2011 – September 2013, executive officer to the commander, 10th Air Force, NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas
13. September 2013 – June 2016, commander, 477th Force Support Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
14. June 2016 – present, commander, 442nd Mission Support Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Navigator
Flight hours: More than 800
Aircraft flown: T-43, T-37 and C-130H
MAJOR AWARDS & DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and five oak leaf clusters
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force and Air Force Reserve Command Outstanding Field-Grade Public Affairs Officer of the Year for 2006
PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant January 28, 1993
First Lieutenant January 28, 1995
Captain January 28, 1997
Major April 1, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel August 20, 2010
Colonel June 1, 2016
(Current as of July 2016)