Lt. Col. Benjamin Werner is the Commander, 344th Recruiting Squadron, Arlington Texas. He leads a squadron of seven flights 84 people across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, covering 106,000 square miles. He partners with military, civic, community and educational organizations to inspire, engage and recruit future Airmen and Guardians to deliver airpower for America.
He manages a $1 million budget, contributing to training pipeline sustainment, force management goals, and strategically, the readiness of the U.S. Air Force to deter war and protect the security of our nation. The squadron's mission is to inspire, engage, and recruit diverse, highly qualified applicants to ensure our Nation’s continued Total Force dominance through Air, Space, and Cyberspace.
Lieutenant Colonel Werner enlisted in the Air Force in 2000 and served as an aircraft mechanic and Crew Chief on the KC-10A Extender heavy refueling tanker aircraft. He commissioned through Officer Training School in 2004. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Squadron Commander, and Director of Operations for the 324th Training Squadron, 331st Training Squadron and the 737th Training Group Detachment 5 at Keesler AFB, Mississippi.
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EDUCATION
2004 Associates of Science, Aerospace Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Travis AFB, Calif.
2004 Bachelor of Science, Professional Aeronautics, ERAU-Worldwide, Travis AFB, Calif.
2009 Master of Business Administration, Strategic Leadership, TUI International, Robins AFB, Ga.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.|
2016 Air Command and Staff College, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
2016 Instructional Systems Design Course, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
2021 Air War College, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
2021 Inspector General Complaints Resolution & Inspections Training, Leesburg, Virginia and JBSA-Lackland, Texas
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Dec. 2000 – Nov. 2004, Crew Chief & Mobility Program Manager, 660th Aircraft Maintenance Sq & 60 Maintenance Operations Sq, Travis AFB, Calif.
2. Nov. 2004 – June 2006, Student, Officer Training School & Navigator Training, Maxwell AFB, Ala. & Randolph AFB, Texas
3. June 2006 – Nov. 2009, Navigator, Assistant Chief of Current Ops, 16th Airborne Command & Control Sq, Robins AFB, Ga.
4. Nov. 2009 – May 2013, Instructor Combat Systems Officer, 479th Ops Support Sq, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
5. May 2013 – Sept. 2018, Instructor Navigator, Wing Deputy Director of Staff, 55th Wing, 55th Ops Support Sq, Offutt AFB, Neb.
6. Jan. 2017 – Jan. 2018, CJTF Deputy Commander/9th AETF-L Commander Executive Officer & Joint Air Component Coordination Element Officer, CJTF-OIR HQ, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait & CJFLCC-OIR HQ, Union III Baghdad, Iraq
7. Oct. 2018 – Jan. 2021, Director of Operations, 331st Training Sq, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
8. Aug. 2020 – Nov. 2020, Commander, 737th Training Group, Detachment 5, Keesler AFB, Miss.
9. Jan. 2021 – July 2021, Commander, 324th Training Sq, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
10. July 2021 – March 2022, Inspector General, 37th Training Wing, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator, Flight hours: 2385
Aircraft flown: RC-135V/W, T-1A, & E-8C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Feb 18, 2005
First Lieutenant Feb 18, 2007
Captain Feb 18, 2009
Major Jul 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel Dec 1, 2019