Colonel Stephen L. Meister is the commander, 341st Operations Group, 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. He commands a group of three missile squadrons and an operations support squadron, providing nuclear combat capability to the commander of United States Strategic Command, in support of national objectives. Col. Meister is responsible for the safe, secure and reliable operation of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles operated from 15 remote missile alert facilities, dispersed over 13,800 square miles, the largest missile complex in the Minuteman fleet and the Western Hemisphere.
Col. Meister graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1994 and received his commission through Officer Training School in 2001. His operational experience includes combat mission ready status in the Peacekeeper and Minuteman III ICBM systems, wing level Emergency War Order plans, and Minuteman III ICBM test operations. Col. Meister also served on the staff of United States Strategic Command Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike as Chief, ICBM Strike Planning. Prior to his current assignment, Col. Meister was the Chief of the International Negotiations Division in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate of the Joint Staff.
Col. Meister’s wife, Ms. Jodi Brooks, resides in Great Falls, Montana. His late wife is the former Dana Brannin of Lincoln, Nebraska. They have three grown children, Gabriel, Rebecca, and Abigail.
Col. Meister is a Master Nuclear and Missile Operator and a fully qualified joint staff officer.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Arts in English, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
2002 Distinguished Graduate, ICBM Initial Qualification Training, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA
2006 Top Third Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009 Master of Arts in National Security Studies, American Military University, Charles Town, WV
2014 Joint Professional Military Education Phase II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
2015 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2016 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School for Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL
2021 Master of Arts in National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington DC
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2002 - May 2002 — Missile Combat Crew Initial Qualification Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA
2. June 2002 - January 2007 — Missile Combat Crew, Evaluator, Senior Stan/Eval Crew Commander, Chief Wing EWO Plans, 90th Missile Wing, FE Warren AFB, WY
3. January 2007- June 2011 — Top Hand Professional Development Program, 576th Flight Test Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, CA
4. July 2011 - June 2014 — ICBM Force Employment Planner and Chief, ICBM Strike Planning, HQ United States Strategic Command — Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike, Offutt AFB, NE
5. July 2014 - June 2015 — Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
6. July 2015 - June 2016 — Student, School for Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL
7. June 2016 - May 2018 — Director of Operations, 576th Flight Test Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, CA
8. June 2018 - June 2020 — Commander, 12th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB MT
9. June 2020 - June 2021 — Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, DC
10. June 2021 – June 2022 — Space Policy Planner, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC
11. June 2022 - July 2024 — Chief, International Negotiations Division, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC
12. July 2024 - Present — Commander, 341st Operations Group, Malmstrom AFB, MT
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2011 – June 2014, ICBM Force Employment Planner and Chief, ICBM Strike Planning, HQ United States Strategic Command — Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike, Offutt AFB, NE, as a major
2. June 2021 – Present, Chief, International Negotiations Division, Joint Staff J5 Deputy Directorate for Strategic Stability, Pentagon, Washington, DC, as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with “N” Device and 5 Oak Leaf Clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Distinguished Graduate, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Initial Qualification Training
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
Master Missile Badge with Operations Designator
Senior Space Operations Badge
(CURRENT AS OF JULY 2024)