Colonel Benjamin Kuster is the Commander, 14th Operations Group, Columbus AFB, Mississippi . The Group conducts Pilot Training and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals for more than 400 U.S. Air Force and international officers each year utilizing a fleet of 180 T-6A/T-38C aircraft and 24 flight simulators. He overseas an air traffic control complex with over 300,000 aircraft movements annually and his command includes six squadrons with over 1,300 officers, civilians, enlisted, and contract personnel.
Colonel Kuster entered the Air Force in 2005 following his graduation from the United States Air Force Academy earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He earned his pilot wings at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi in 2007, becoming a First Assignment Instructor Pilot in the T-6A. While serving in the T-6A, he successfully completed a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. In 2011, Colonel Kuster joined the Combat Air Forces in the F-15E, eventually serving as Chief of Wing Standardization and Evaluation / F-15E Evaluator Pilot at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. He has flown over 320 combat hours in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE.
Colonel Kuster rejoined AETC in 2019 at Laughlin AFB, Texas where he served as Director of Operations at the 85th Flying Training Squadron, Commander of the 434th Flying Training Squadron, and finally Deputy Operations Group Commander of the 47th Operations Group. He then was selected and attended Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Prior to this assignment, Colonel Kuster served as Deputy Division Head, Combat Plans Division and Deputy Senior National Representative at NATO Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem in Uedem, Germany.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO.
2006 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2010 Master of Science in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Arizona State University, AZ.
2016 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL by correspondence.
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL by correspondence.
2024 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2005 – December 2005, Casual Officer, Office of the Registrar, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
2. January 2006 – July 2006, Assistant Operations Group Executive Officer, 347th Operations Group, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.
3. July 2006 – March 2007, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 3rd Flying Training Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.
4. March 2007 – September 2007, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 50th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.
5. September 2007 – March 2008, Student T-6 Primary Instructor Training, 559th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.
5. March 2008 – June 2011, Life Support Officer, Squadron Executive Officer, Assistant Flight Commander, T-6 Instructor Pilot, 37th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.
6. June 2011 – August 2011, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 49th Fighter Training Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.
7. August 2011 – July 2012, Student, F-15E Basic Course, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.
8. July 2012 – August 2015, Training Officer, Assistant Chief of Training, Chief of Mobility, Flight Commander, F-15E Multi-Ship Flight Lead, 494th Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom.
9. August 2015 – November 2016, Operations Group Executive Officer, Director of Staff, F-15E Instructor Pilot, 48th Operations Group, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom.
10. November 2016 – July 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, F-15E Evaluator Pilot, 494th Fighter Squadron Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom.
11. July 2017 – July 2019, Chief Standardization and Evaluation, F-15E Evaluator Pilot, 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.
12. August 2019 – October 2019, Chief Pilot, T-6A Evaluator Pilot, 434th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
13. October 2019 – March 2021, Director of Operations, 85th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
14. March 2021 – April 2022, Commander, 434th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
15. April 2022 – Jun 2023, Deputy Commander, 47th Operations Group, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
16. Jun 2023 – Jun 2024, SDE Student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
17. Jul 2024 – Jul 2025, Offensive Plans Branch Head/Deputy Senior National Representative, NATO Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem, Uedem, Germany.
18. Jul 2025 – Jun 2026, Deputy Division Head, Combat Plans Division/Deputy Senior National Representative, NATO Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem, Uedem, Germany.
19. Jun 2026 – Present, Commander, 14th Operations Group, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
Jul 2024 – Jul 2025, Offensive Plans Branch Head/Deputy Senior National Representative, NATO Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem, Uedem, Germany.
Jul 2025 – Jun 2026, Deputy Division Head, Combat Plans Division/Deputy Senior National Representative, NATO Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem, Uedem, Germany.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,800
Aircraft flown: F-15E/SG/SA, T-6A, T-38C, AT-38, F-16D, UH-1, T-1A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with seven oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 2005
First Lieutenant June 1, 2007
Captain June 1, 2009
Major September 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel February 1, 2020
Colonel May 1, 2026
(Current as of May 2026)