Lieutenant Colonel Christopher J. Kurpiel is the Commander of the 911th Operations Group, Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, Penn. He leads the 234 military and civilian personnel in the 758th Airlift Squadron, 911th Operations Support Squadron, and 911th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. The Group is ready to provide global reach and global power for America in the C-17 Globemaster III.
Lieutenant Colonel Kurpiel entered the Air Force through the United States Air Force Academy in 2004. During his career he has deployed to Southwest Asia eight times in support of the Global War of Terrorism. His command experience includes leading the 911th Operations Support Squadron as well as the deployed C-17 detachments of both the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (EAS), Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait and the 817 EAS, Incirlik AB, Turkey.
His assignments include flying the C-17 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. As a C-17 aviator, he has served as an evaluator aircraft commander and an Operation DEEP FREEZE instructor pilot. Lt Col Kurpiel’s other leadership opportunities include Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Assistant Operations Officer, and Director of Staff for the 4th Airlift Squadron, Chief of the 62d Airlift Wing Commander’s Action Group, and
6th Airlift Squadron’s Chief of Safety. He completed Senior Developmental Education in 2023. Most recently, he has assisted in the 911th Airlift Wing’s conversion from C-130 to C-17 aircraft as Commander of the
911th Operations Support Squadron and Deputy Commander of the 911th Operations Group.
Lieutenant Colonel Kurpiel is a command pilot with more than 4,900 flying hours in the C-17, T-6, and T- 1.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, by correspondence
2009 Flight Safety Officer Course, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2011 Master of Science, Aeronautical Science & Aviation Safety, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
2012 Advanced Instrument School, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, by correspondence
2015 Master of Science, Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2023 Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, Distance Education Program
2023 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Aug 2004 – Jul 2005, Squadron Adjutant, 88th Operations Support Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
2. Jul 2005 – Apr 2007, Student Pilot, Moody Air Force Base, GA
3. Apr 2006 – Mar 2007, Student Pilot, Columbus Air Force Base, MS
4. Mar 2007 – May 2011, C-17 Instructor Aircraft Commander, 6th Airlift Squadron, McGuire AFB, NJ
5. May 2011 – Aug 2014, C-17 Evaluator Aircraft Commander, 4th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, WA
6. Aug 2014 – Dec 2015, AFIT Student, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
7. Jan 2016 – Jun 2019, C-17 Instructor Aircraft Commander, 4th Airlift Squadron, JB Lewis-McChord, WA
8. Jun 2019 – Jul 2020, C-17 Instructor Aircraft Commander, 758th Airlift Squadron, Pittsburgh ARS, PA
9. Jul 2020 – Dec 2023, Commander, 911th Operations Support Squadron, Pittsburgh ARS, PA
10. Jan 2024 – Jan 2024, Deputy Commander, 911th Operations Group, Pittsburgh ARS, PA
11. Jan 2024 – Present, Commander, 911th Operations Group, Pittsburgh ARS, PA
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,900 including over 1,704 combat hours
Aircraft flown: C-17, T-6, T-1, and B-737
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with twelve oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with four campaign stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with one campaign star
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and eight oak leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2008
Captain June 2, 2012
Major June 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel February 1, 2019
(Current as of February 2024)