Col COLONEL ROGNALD E. CHRISTENSEN

COLONEL ROGNALD E. CHRISTENSEN

Colonel Christensen is the Commander, 35th Maintenance Group, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base, Japan. He is responsible for 1,100 aircraft maintenance personnel who perform maintenance on 44 F-16CM aircraft valued at $1.4 billion, an O&M budget of over $1 million, a $200 million equipment account, and the daily operations of PACAF's Centralized Engine Repair Facility that provides over 156 operational F110 engines valued at over $500 million to three fighter wings in PACAF.

Colonel Christensen graduated from the University of Southern Colorado in 1998 and earned his commission from Officer Training School in 1999. He has served in a variety of maintenance positions at the wing, Headquarters Air Force, the United States Military Training Mission and within the Joint and Multi-national F-35 Joint Program Office.

Colonel Christensen was selected for the Air Force Intern Program, Washington DC, completing a fellowship with The George Washington University and internships within the Joint Staff/J4 and SAF/AQ. He has commanded the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 49th Maintenance Operations Squadron, and served as a Deputy Group Commander for the 8th Maintenance Group. Previous to his career as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer, he originally enlisted in the Air Force in 1992 as an Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman.

He and his wife Lora have a daughter, Grace Elizabeth (11).

EDUCATION

1998 – Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, summa cum laude, USC, Pueblo, CO

2005 – Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL

2007 – Master’s Degree in Organizational Management, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

2008 – Air Command and Staff College, Seminar

2008 – Strategic Policy Intern

2014 – Air War College, Correspondence

2017 – Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

ASSIGNMENTS

1. November 1999 – July 2000, Asst Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 77th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD

2. July 2000 – June 2001, Sortie Support Flight Commander, 77th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD

3. June 2001 – August 2002, Accessory Flight Commander, 28th Maintenance Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD

4. August 2002 – January 2003, Maintenance Flight Commander, 28th Maintenance Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD

5. January 2003 – February 2004, Assistant OIC, 1st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Tyndall AFB, FL

6. February 2004 – July 2006, Officer In Charge, 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Tyndall AFB, FL

7. July 2006 – June 2008, Air Force Intern, Pentagon, Washington DC

8. June 2008 – May 2009, Chief AF/A4/7 Action Group, Air Staff, Pentagon, Washington DC

9. May 2009 – May 2010, Maintenance Advisor, USMTM, Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

10. May 2010 – Mar 2012, Commander, 49th Maintenance Operations Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM

11. Mar 2012 – Jul 2014, Commander, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan

12. Jul 2014 – Jul 2016, F-35 Maintenance Support Lead, F-35 Joint Program Office, Crystal City, VA

13. Jul 2016 – May 2017, Student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL

14. Jul 2017 – Jul 2018, Deputy Commander, 8th Maintenance Group, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea

15. Jul 2018 – Jul 2019, Inquiry Officer, Senior Official Inquiries, Secretary of the Air Force Office of the Inspector General, Pentagon, Washington DC

16. Jul 2019 – Present, Commander, 35th Maintenance Group, Misawa AB, Japan

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

1. May 2009 – May 2010, Maintenance Advisor, USMTM, Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as a Major

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters

Air Force Achievement Medal

Good Conduct Medal

National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Distinguished Graduate, Aircraft Maintenance Munitions Officer Course (2000)