Col Michael H. Kingry is the Deputy Commander, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. With over 5,000 personnel consisting of 4,200 active-duty military members, nearly 300 U.S. civilian employees, and 700 Italian civilian employees, the Wing conducts and supports air combat operations and maintains munitions for NATO. The wing’s diverse mission sets are executed by Airmen that fly, maintain and support two F-16 fighter squadrons, two MQ-9 expeditionary attack squadrons, two combat search and rescue squadrons equipped with HH-60W Jolly Green II and Guardian Angels (Pararescue, CRO, and TACP Airmen), U.S. Air Forces Europe’s only air control squadron, as well as agile combat support squadrons, medical squadrons and numerous wing staff agencies.
Col Kingry received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 2004. He earned his wings from Ft. Rucker, Alabama, and accomplished initial HH-60 training at Kirtland AFB, NM.
Col Kingry is a command pilot with over 2,500 total hours in the HH-60G/W. His past service includes Squadron Command, Director of Operations, National Defense and Legislative Fellow, USAF Weapons School Instructor Pilot, and Squadron Weapons Officer. He has flown over 660 combat hours in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE.
Prior to his current assignment, Col Kingry was the Chief of House Congressional Affairs at United States European Command, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science, Military History, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2013 Master of Military History, American Military University
2014 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2018 Air Force Legislative Fellowship, Washington D.C.
2018 Certificate of Government Affairs, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
2022 National Defense Fellowship, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Arlington, Va.
2023 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2004 – December 2005, Student, Joint Primary Flight Training, Naval Air Station, Whiting Field, Fla.
2. December 2005 – June 2006, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Fort Rucker, Ala.
3. July 2006 – February 2007, HH-60G Mission Pilot Initial Qualification Course, 512th Rescue Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. March 2007 – August 2009, HH-60G Mission Pilot, Tactics Officer, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
5. September 2009 - October 2010, HH-60G Flight Lead, Chief of Training, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
6. November 2010 – June 2011, HH-60G Instructor Pilot, Chief of Training, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
7. July 2011 – December 2011, Student, United States Air Force Weapons School, 34th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. January 2012 – September 2012, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 33rd Rescue Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
9. October 2012 – April 2013, Flight Commander, 33rd Rescue Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
10. May 2013 – March 2014, Wing Chief of HH-60G Tactics, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
11. April 2014 – April 2016, HH-60G Weapons Instructor Course Instructor Pilot, Assistant Director of Operations, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 34th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
12. April 2016 – July 2016, Assistant Director of Operations, HH-60G Weapons Instructor Course Instructor Pilot, 34th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. August 2016 – November 2016, Commander’s Action Group Deputy, HH-60G Weapons Instructor Course Instructor Pilot, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
14. November 2016 – July 2017, Chief, Commander’s Action Group, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
15. August 2017 – April 2019, Intermediate Developmental Education, Air Force Legislative Fellowship, Office of Congressman Rob Bishop, Washington D.C.
16. April 2019 – June 2020, Director of Operations, 56th Rescue Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
17. June 2020 – June 2022, Commander, 56th Rescue Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
18. July 2022 – June 2023, National Defense Fellow, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Arlington, Va.
19. July 2023 – June 2025, Chief of House Congressional Affairs, US European Command, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
20. July 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano AB, Italy
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 2,568
Combat hours: 668
Aircraft flown: HH-60W, HH-60G, UH-1, T-34
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Device
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with twenty-two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal with gold star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three service stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with service star
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2006
Captain June 2, 2008
Major May 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel September 1, 2018
Colonel April 1, 2024
(CURRENT AS OF JUL 2025)