Colonel Conn P. McKelvey is the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Deputy Commander, Twentieth Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command, F.E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB), Wyoming. He is responsible for assisting the Numbered Air Force Deputy Commander in advising and setting Twentieth Air Force policy on issues affecting the daily operations and wartime execution of the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) weapon system at twenty Air Force units across four wings and two geographically separated units.
In 1998, Colonel McKelvey was commissioned through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) following his graduation from the University of Notre Dame. After Undergraduate Space & Missile and ICBM Initial Qualification Training at Vandenberg AFB, California, Colonel McKelvey held several operations positions within the 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana. They included Wing Codes Controller, Squadron Command Post Crew Commander, Assistant Flight Commander and Instructor. In a five-year period on active duty, Colonel McKelvey logged over 4200 ICBM combat alert hours and over 1000 hours of instruction. Following a brief time in the Inactive Ready Reserve, Colonel McKelvey joined the active reserve component in 2005, transitioning to an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) role for several different positions in the 341st Operations Support Squadron. His experience included Emergency War Orders Training, Weapons and Tactics Planning, and Standardization Evaluation. During this time, he also began mentoring officer candidates for the United States Air Force Academy and the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. The United States Air Force Academy Admissions Directorate hired him to be the Deputy Director of Montana’s Admissions Liaison Officer program in 2010, promoting him to the Director position in 2013. In 2017, Colonel McKelvey accepted a position at his current unit, Twentieth Air Force, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. His efforts there include revitalizing the Air Force Reserve component of the ICBM force in order to prepare for the deployment of the new Sentinel ICBM weapon system.
In his civilian capacity, Colonel McKelvey serves as the Director of Business Operations for the 341st Contracting Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. His responsibilities include serving as the civilian deputy commander, representing the 341st Missile Wing as the Small Business Professional, and providing business contract advice to Malmstrom AFB leadership.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering & Environmental Science, University of Notre Dame, Ind.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Master’s Degree in Military Operational Art & Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. July 1998–October 1998, Assistant to the Commander, AFROTC Detachment 225, University of Notre Dame, Ind.
2. October 1998–May 1999, Student, 392nd Training Squadron, Vandenberg, AFB, Calif.
3. May 1999–December 1999, ICBM Deputy Crew Commander, 490th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
4. December 1999–May 2000, Assistant Flight Commander, 490th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
5. May 2000–May 2001, ICBM Deputy Crew Commander Instructor, 341st Operations Support Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
6. May 2001–July 2002, ICBM Squadron Command Post Crew Commander, 490th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
7. July 2002–August 2003, ICBM Wing Codes Controller, 341st Operations Support Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
8. August 2003–May 2005, Member, Inactive Ready Reserve
9. May 2005–May 2006, Member, Wing Exercise and Evaluation Team, 341st Space Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
10. May 2006–May 2008, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to Chief, Weapons & Tactics, 341st Operations Support Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
11. May 2008–September 2010, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to Assistant Operations Officer, ICBM Weapons & Tactics, 341st Operations Support Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
12. September 2010–December 2012, Deputy Director, USAF Admissions Liaison Officer (ALO) Program, 9001st Air Reserve Squadron, Mont.
13. January 2013–December 2017, Director, USAF Admissions Liaison Officer (ALO) Program, 9001st Air Reserve Squadron, Mont.
14. December 2017–January 2022, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to Deputy Chief, Nuclear Operations Division, 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
15. February 2022–June 2025, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to Director, Nuclear Operations & Communications Division, 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
16. June 2025–Present, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to Deputy Commander, 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
AF Longevity Service with five bronze oak leaf clusters
AF Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 15, 1998
First Lieutenant June 15, 2000
Captain June 15, 2002
Major June 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2016
Colonel February 4, 2022
(Current as of September 2025)