Colonel Kenneth A. Benton is Commander of the 341st Maintenance Group, Malmstrom AFB, Montana. He is responsible for more than 550 Airmen and all sustainment, modernization, and deployment operations required in sustaining and modernizing up to 150 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and associated launch facilities and launch control centers throughout the 13,800 square mile complex. He is also the senior advisor to the Wing Commander for all logistics and maintenance matters.
Col Benton received his commission from the U. S. Air Force Officer Training School in 1998. He has served in various Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Maintenance, Munitions Maintenance, and Logistics Enterprise positions including Aide-de-Camp to the Commander of Twentieth Air Force, logistics career broadening program, and an Air Force nuclear fellow with the Department of Energy. He has commanded at the squadron level twice and served on the Headquarter Air Force staff as the deputy chief of the Assessments Division.
Prior to assuming his current position, Col Benton was the Commander of the 309th Missile Maintenance Group, Ogden Air Logistics Complex, Hill AFB, UT.
EDUCATION
1993 Community College of the Air Force, University of Maryland, Munich Campus, Germany
1996 Bachelor of Science in Biology, North Georgia College, Dahlonega, Georgia
2003 Master of Business Administration, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, by correspondence
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2010 AF Fellowship with Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration, Washington, D.C.
2014 Air War College, by correspondence
2017 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington, D.C.
2018 LOGTECH Advanced Course, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1998 - July 2001, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Maintenance Officer, 91st Maintenance Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
2. July 2001 - May 2003, Chief, Logistics Operations, Twentieth Air Force, F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
3. May 2003 - June 2005, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, Twentieth Air Force, F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
4. June 2005 - June 2007, USAF Logistics Career Broadening Program, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah
5. June 2007 - September 2007, Chief, Readiness Flight, 505th Combat Sustainment Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
6. September 2007 - July 2009, Operations Officer, 649th Munitions Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
7. July 2009 - June 2010, AF Fellow, DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration, Washington, D.C.
8. June 2010 - July 2012, Commander, 86th Munitions Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
9. July 2012 - June 2014, Deputy Chief, Assessments Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
10. June 2014 - June 2016, Commander, 701st Munitions Support Squadron, Kleine Brogel AB, Belgium
11. June 2016 - June 2017, Student, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2017 - June 2019, Joint Munitions Officer, Joint Staff Logistics Directorate, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2019 - July 2021, Commander, 309th Missile Maintenance Group, Ogden Air Logistics Complex, Hill AFB, Utah
14. July 2021 - Present, Commander, 341st Maintenance Group, Malmstrom AFB, Montana
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
NATO Medal for Operations and Activities in Relation to Libya
2011 Lt General Leo Marquez Award, Outstanding Munitions & Missile Maintenance, Field Grade Manager
(CURRENT AS OF JULY 2021)