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Lieutenant Colonel LAUREN K. KRUSE

Lt Col Lauren K. Kruse is the Commander, 140th Maintenance Group, 140th Fighter Wing, Buckley Space Force Base, CO. She supports a team of 488 personnel sustaining maintenance operations for 23 F-16C aircraft. The 140th Maintenance Group produces 1,765 flight hours per year in support of 34 aircrew.

Lt Col Kruse earned her commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 2009. Following her commission, she served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer working with F-22s at Langley Air Force Base, Va., F-16s and F-35s at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., A-10s, HH-60s, and C-130s at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz, and F-15Es at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, NC. She attended the Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in 2014 and came back as an instructor a few years later. Lt Col Kruse has served as an Executive Officer at the group level and has supported Operations NOBLE EAGLE and ODYSSEY DAWN. She has also served as the Commander of Cadet Squadron 17 at the United States Air Force Academy and the Commander of the 333rd Fighter Generation Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, NC. Prior to her current position, Lt Col Kruse was the Deputy Commander of the 140th Maintenance Group. 

 

EDUCATION  

2009 Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.

2010 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2012 Master of Business Administration, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.

2014 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2014 Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School, Nellis AFB, Nev.

2021 Masters in Counseling, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, CO

2021 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2025 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

 

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. August 2009–December 2010, Accessories Flight Commander, 1st Component Maintenance Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
  2. December 2010–May 2011, Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight Commander, 1st Maintenance Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
  3. May 2011–May 2012, Executive Officer, 1st Maintenance Group, Langley AFB, Va.
  4. May 2012–August 2013, Assistant Officer in Charge, 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
  5. August 2013–September 2015, Detachment Commander, 372nd Training Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
  6. September 2015–March 2016, Officer in Charge, 309th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
  7. March 2016–January 2017, Officer in Charge, 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 756th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
  8. January 2017–July 2017, Officer in Charge, 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
  9. July 2017–January 2019, Academics Flight Commander/Instructor, Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
  10. January 2019–July 2019, Academics Operations Officer/Instructor, Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
  11. July 2019–February 2020, Maintenance Operations Officer, 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
  12. February 2020–May 2021, Student, Air Officer Commanding master’s degree program, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colo.
  13. May 2021-June 2023, Commander, Cadet Squadron 17, USAF Academy, CO
  14. June 2023-June 2025, Commander, 333d Fighter Generation Squadron, 4th Maintenance Group, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, NC
  15. June 2025-November 2025, Deputy Commander, 140th Maintenance Group, 140th Fighter Wing, Buckley Space Force Base, Colo.
  16. November 2025-Present, Commander, 140th Maintenance Group, 140th Fighter Wing, Buckley Space Force Base, Colo.

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant May 27, 2009

First Lieutenant May 27, 2011

Captain May 27, 2013

Major January 1, 2019

Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2023

 

( Current as of November 2025)