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Colonel DANIEL E. KOBS

Colonel Daniel E. Kobs is the Deputy Commander, 352d Special Operations Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom. He assists in directing operations of over 1,200 active-duty and civilian Airmen performing Special Tactics missions, MC-130J Commando II aircraft operations, and CV-22B Osprey aircraft operations for United States Air Force Special Operations in the United States European Command.

Colonel Kobs received his commission through the United States Air Force Officer Training School in 1998 after earning a B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Mexico in July 1994. With primary aviation experience as an MC-130J navigator/combat system officer, he has deployed multiple times, to include the initial deployments for Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM – Philippines. Colonel Kobs has commanded at the squadron and group levels and has served in staff assignments at Special Operations Command – Korea, Special Operations Command – North, and Joint Special Operations Command. A New Mexico native, he has been married to the former Nicole James for more than 32 years, and they are proud parents of three adult children and one granddaughter.

Prior to assuming his current position, he was the J5 Director at Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Liberty, NC.

EDUCATION

1994       Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
2004       Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), AL
2004       Special Operations Division, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Hurlburt Field, FL
2010       Master of Military Operational Art and Science – Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011       Master of Military Strategy – School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2018       Senior Developmental Education – Leadership in International Security Course, Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Geneva, Switzerland
2019       Joint Forces Staff College, Joint and Combined Warfighting School - JPME Phase II, Norfolk, VA

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. February 1998 – December 1998, student, VT-10 undergraduate navigator training, NAS Pensacola, FL
  2. January 1999 – March 2000, student, 562nd undergraduate navigator training, Randolph AFB, TX
  3. April 2000 – August 2000, student, 550 SOS, special operations navigator mission qualification training, Kirtland AFB, NM
  4. September 2000 – July 2003, MC-130P Navigator/Resource Advisor and Current Operations Officer, 67 SOS, RAF Mildendhall, UK
  5. August 2003 – January 2004, MC-130P Instructor Navigator/Squadron Chief of Tactics, 17 SOS, Kadena AB, Japan
  6. January 2004 – January 2005, MC-130P Instructor Navigator/MC-130P Division Chief of Group Weapons and Tactics, 353 SOG, Kadena AB, Japan
  7. January 2005 – May 2007, MC-130P Evaluator Navigator/Group Weapons and Tactics, 353 SOG, Kadena AB, Japan
  8. May 2007 – April 2008, MC-130P Evaluator Navigator/Chief, Group Weapons and Tactics, 353 SOG, Kadena AB, Japan
  9. April 2008 – August 2009, MC-130P Evaluator Navigator/Chief, Group Standardization and Evaluation, 353 SOG, Kadena AB, Japan
  10. August 2009 – June 2010, student, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
  11. June 2010 – June 2011, student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
  12. June 2011 – May 2012, Chief, Special Operations Branch, LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education, Maxwell AFB, AL
  13. May 2012 – May 2014, Operations Officer, 17 SOS, Kadena AB, JP
  14. June 2014 – July 2015, Director of Operations, 18 FLTS, Hurlburt Field, FL
  15. July 2015 – July 2017, Commander, 18 FLTS, Hurlburt Field, FL
  16. July 2017 – July 2018, student, Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Geneva, Switzerland
  17. July 2018 – July 2020, Director of Strategy, Plans, Policy, and Assessments; Special Operations Command-Korea, US Army Garrison-Humphreys, Republic of Korea
  18. July 2020 – May 2021, Chief of Staff; Special Operations Command – North, Peterson Air Force Base, CO
  19. May 2021 – June 2022, Commander, 409th Air Expeditionary Group, Agadez, Niger.
  20. July 2022 – May 2024, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy; Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Liberty, NC
  21. May 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, 352d Special Operations Wing, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 2200, including more than 350 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: MC-130J, MC-130P, C-130E, T-43A

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Combat Action Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant February 20, 1998
First Lieutenant February 20, 2000
Captain February 20, 2002
Major September 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2012
Colonel January 1, 2019

(Current as of July 2024)