Col Justin D. Secrest is the Wing and Installation Commander at the 377th Air Base Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The wing provides highly trained forces supporting the nuclear enterprise and expeditionary combat forces to combatant commanders. The wing is responsible for installation operations, security, maintenance, medical care, and mission support for 25,000 military and civilian employees, 27,000 retirees, and 20,000 family members who live and work on Kirtland's 52,000 acres. Kirtland is the fifth largest base in the United States Air Force. The wing is the host for 108 mission partners, to include the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, 58th, and 150th Special Operations Wings, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Sandia National Laboratories, Space Rapid Capabilities Office, Air Force Research Laboratories, Air Force Inspection Agency, and Air Force Safety Center, in addition to other wing equivalent units. The 377th Air Base Wing also operates the United States only dedicated Intercontinental Ballistic Missile test organization for current and future capabilities of the nation's force. Elite weapons and tactics development and missile test launches are developed and executed locally and at geographically separated locations in Utah and California.
Col Secrest enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1988 and served as a Security Forces Craftsman, Secure Communications Craftsman, and Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Instructor. In 2001, he received a commission through the Air Force Officer Training School and subsequently began his commissioned career as a Security Forces Officer. He went on to various assignments in Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, Air Force Space Command, United States Air Forces in Europe, and Air Force Global Strike Command. He served in positions at multiple levels including flight commander, section commander, logistics officer, wing anti-terrorism officer, wing executive officer, operations officer, squadron commander, wing director of staff, and deputy group commander. Col Secrest also deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq and served as compound commander as well as officer in charge of detainee visitation. Notably, he served as 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron interim commander and oversaw the historic end of the Air Force Security Forces mission inside Iraq’s Theater Internment Facilities. Col Secrest attended the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy where he was assigned to a Nuclear Command Control and Communications systems study and completed a data visualizations concentration. Col Secrest then served as the Chief, Security Forces for Headquarters, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, LA. In that role, he was responsible for developing and executing physical security policy, plans, and programs for 8 installations, and overseeing training and readiness for 5,800 Security Forces to equip Global Strike units to ensure exceptional readiness and lethality. Prior to his current assignment, Col Secrest was the Commander, 90th Security Forces Group, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, leading six squadrons and a group staff comprised of over 1,300 personnel, a $37M budget and $75M in equipment while also being responsible for Air Force Global Strike Command’s Readiness Training Center.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, General Studies, Regents College, Albany, NY
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2006 Master of Arts, with honors, Human Resource Development, Webster University, St Louis, MO
2006 Squadron Officer School, “Top Third” Graduate, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, Session #240, Quantico, VA
2010 Air Command and staff College (by correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2013 Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, VA
2013 Master of Science, Military Studies, Marine Corps University, Quantico, VA
2020 Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, VA
2020 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, The Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort McNair, VA
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. May 2001 – August 2001, Student Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2. August 2001 – February 2002, Flight Commander, 509th Security Forces Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO
3. February 2002 – February 2003, Section Commander, 509th Security Forces Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO
4. February 2003 – October 2003, Installation Anti-Terrorism Officer, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO
5. October 2003 – October 2004, Officer in Charge of Supply, Logistics & Training, 8th Security Forces Squadron, Kunsan AB, ROK
6. October 2004 – October 2005, Flight Commander, 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, WY
7. October 2005 – March 2007, Operations Officer, 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, WY
8. March 2007 – August 2009, Operations Officer, 569th US Forces Police Squadron, Vogelweh, Germany (October 2007 – May 2008, Compound Commander, 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Bucca, Iraq)
9. August 2009 – May 2010, Executive Officer, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
10. May 2010 – July 2012, Commander, 23rd Security Forces Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, GA
11. July 2012 – June 2013, Student, Marine Command and Staff College, Quantico Marine Base, VA
12. June 2013 – July 2015, Commander, 341st Missile Security Forces Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, MT
13. July 2015 – July 2016, Deputy Commander, 341st Security Forces Group, Malmstrom AFB, MT
14. July 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 509th Security Forces Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO
15. June 2018 – June 2019, Director of Staff, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO
16. June 2019 – June 2020, Student, Eisenhower School for National Security & Resource Strategy, Ft McNair, DC
17. June 2020 – July 2022, Assistant Deputy Director for Operations, Operations Team 2, J3, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
18. July 2022 – June 2023, Chief, Security Forces, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, LA
19. June 2023 – July 2025, Commander, 90th Security Forces Group, F.E. Warren AFB, WY
20. July 2025 – Present, Commander, 377th Air Base Wing, Kirtland AFB, NM
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2020 – July 2022, Assistant Deputy Director for Operations, Operations Team 2, J3, Pentagon, Washington D.C, as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant August 16, 2001
First Lieutenant August 16, 2003
Captain August 16, 2005
Major October 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel September 1, 2016
Colonel May 1, 2022
(Current as of July 2025)