Colonel Sarah S. Kaiser is the Commandant, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Operations School (EOS), U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ. The EOS is tasked to prepare over 40,000 total force Airmen and Joint partners annually, across the spectrum of skillsets needed to fight with the capabilities to survive and operate in any environment. This is carried out through an outstanding cadre of Community College of the Air Force-accredited instructors and leaders with extensive mobility and expeditionary experiences. The group is comprised of the 421st Combat Training Squadron, the 423d Training Squadron, the 435th Training Squadron, and the Academic Affairs Section.
Colonel Kaiser received her commission upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy in May 2002. During her service, she deployed multiple times between 2005 and 2015 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Resolute Support, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, and Operation Inherent Resolve, flying over 1,000 combat hours and receiving nine Air Medals and the NATO Medal.
Before Colonel Kaiser arrived at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, she attended the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA. She also participated in the Career Intermission Program where she separated from the USAF for one year. Before her separation, Colonel Kaiser was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy, where among other jobs she served as the Commander of the 306th Operations Support Squadron and Deputy Commander of the 306th Flying Training Group at Davis Airfield. She is a command pilot with aviation experience in multiple aircraft totaling over 3,000 flight hours, including the KC-10 tanker as an Instructor Aircraft Commander, the TG-10/15/16 glider platforms as Instructor and Evaluator, and the C-208 platform instructing Afghan Air Force pilot training students as an Air Advisor in Afghanistan. Previous assignments include Deputy Executive Officer to the Commander of USSTRATCOM and Aircraft Strike Planner at Offutt Air Force Base, NE; Chief of Flight Safety in the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE; and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation in the 94th Flying Training Squadron at the U.S. Air Force Academy, CO.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Engineering Sciences, United States Air Force Academy, CO
2006 Flight Safety Officer Course, Kirtland AFB, NM
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2008 Master of Aerospace/Aviation Science Technology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, FL
2016 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2024 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2002 - April 2004, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, NAS Whiting Field, FL and Vance AFB, OK
2. May 2004 - April 2010, KC-10 Instructor Aircraft Commander, 32d Air Refueling Sq, and Executive Officer, 305th Operations Group, McGuire AFB, NJ
3. April 2010 - June 2013, TG-10/TG-15/TG-16 Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Safety, Chief of Stan/Eval, 94th Flying Training Sq, and Executive Officer, 306th Flying Training Group, USAF Academy, CO
4. July 2013 - June 2015, KC-10 Instructor Aircraft Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, 6th Air Refueling Sq, Travis AFB, CA
5. July 2014 - June 2015, C-208 Instr Pilot and Air Advisor, 803d Air Expeditionary Advisory Sq, Shindand AB, AFG, and Chief of Flight Safety, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra AB, UAE
6. July 2015 - June 2016, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
7. July 2016 - July 2018, Aircraft Strike Planner and Deputy Executive Officer to the Commander, US Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE
8. July 2018 - May 2019, Director of Operations, 306th Operations Support Sq, USAF Academy, CO
9. May 2019 - June 2021, Commander, 306th Operations Support Squadron, USAF Academy, CO
10. June 2021 - June 2022, Deputy Commander, 306th Flying Training Group, USAF Academy, CO
11. July 2022 - June 2023, Career Intermission Program participant, IRR
12. July 2023 - June 2024, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA
13. June 2024 - Current, Commandant, Expeditionary Operations School, JBMDL, NJ
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,300
Aircraft Flown: T-34, T-1, KC-10, TG-10, TG-15, TG-16, C-208
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
Major April 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2017 (effective date March 1, 2018)
Colonel July 29, 2024
(Current as of July 2024)