Colonel Deane Konowicz is Commander of the Air Force Inspection Agency, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The agency is a diverse team of experts who provide independent inspection, evaluation, oversight, training and analysis to advance continuous improvement of mission effectiveness at all Air Force levels. As the Air Force Inspection System action arm for the Secretary of the Air Force, the agency identifies deficiencies and recommends improvements for accomplishing peacetime and wartime missions and evaluates Air Force activities and policies. The agency also provides by-law and compliance oversight of Air Force-level Field Operating Agencies and Direct Reporting Units and headquarters inspections of above-the-wing level (HAF/MAJCOM/NAF and select FOAs/DRUs).
Prior to his current position, Colonel Konowicz was Vice Commander of the 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. As Vice Commander, he served as the designated successor and principal advisor to the commander, responsible for the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile force organized into three operations missile wings and the 377th Air Base Wing at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, which provides critical support to the nuclear operation and mission partners. He has extensive nuclear operations experience at the wing, numbered air force, major command and as a division chief on the Air Staff. He served as a Minuteman III ICBM senior instructor, Chief of ICBM Operations Standardization & Evaluation Division, Missile Squadron Director of Operations, and he commanded the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron. He deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield and his staff experience includes serving as the Site Chief, Defense Threat Reduction Agency-San Francisco, leading the New START Treaty Inspections in the continental United States and Russia, Program Element Manager for the U.S. Northern Command Mobile Command, Control and Communications System, and executive officer to the Director of Air, Space, and Nuclear Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science in History, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
1999 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Master of Public Administration, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (by correspondence)
2013 Master of Military Operational Art & Science, Air Command & Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (by correspondence)
2018 Master of National Security & Strategic Studies, Distinguished Graduate, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2023 Executive Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2000 - April 2001, student, Minuteman III - Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting Initial Qualification Training, 392d Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
2. April 2001 - June 2003, Minuteman III - REACT Missile Combat Crew Commander, 319th Missile Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
3. July 2003 - August 2004, Chief, ICBM Training Scenarios & Senior Combat Crew Instructor Commander, 90th Operations Support Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
4. August 2004 - April 2005, ICBM Emergency War Order Instructor & Wing Planner, 90th Operations Support Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
5. May 2005 - July 2006, Chief, ICBM Plans & Targeting, Headquarters 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
6. July 2006 - May 2008, Chief, Strategic Force Application, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
7. June 2008 - April 2009, executive officer, Directorate of Air, Space and Nuclear Operations, Headquarters, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
8. May 2009 - April 2010, Assistant Operations Officer, ICBM Current Operations, 90th Operations Support Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
9. April 2010 - July 2010, Assistant Operations Officer, ICBM Weapons & Tactics, 90th Operations Support Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
10. August 2010 - July 2011, Chief, ICBM Standardization & Evaluation Division, 90th Operations Group, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
11. June 2011 - July 2012, Operations Officer, 320th Missile Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
12. July 2012 - June 2013, student, Air Command Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. June 2013 - April 2015, Site Chief & Chief, New START Treaty Escort Branch, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Travis AFB, Calif.
14. June 2015 - June 2017, Commander, 625th Strategic Operations Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
15. July 2017 - June 2018, student, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
16. July 2018 - April 2019, Deputy Chief, Capabilities Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Deterrence & Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
17. April 2019 - November 2019, Director of Staff, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
18. November 2019 - June 2020, Chief, Capabilities Division, DCS, Strategic Deterrence & Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
19. July 2020 – June 2022, Vice Commander, 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
20. July 2022 – June 2023, Vice Commander, 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
21. June 2023 – Present, Commander, Air Force Inspection Agency, Kirtland AFB, NM.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and “N” device
DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant June 02, 1999
First Lieutenant June 02, 2001
Captain June 02, 2003
Major December 01, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel June 01, 2014
Colonel February 01, 2020
(Current as of June 2023)