Steven L. Kwast
Lieutenant General Kwast
BornStockton, California, U.S.[1]
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1986–2019
RankLieutenant General
Commands heldAir Education and Training Command
Air University
455th Air Expeditionary Wing
4th Fighter Wing
47th Operations Group
Battles/warsGulf War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsAir Force Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal

Steven Lloyd Kwast[2] is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general. He last served as commander of Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. In that role, he was responsible for the recruiting, training and education of Air Force personnel. The command includes Air Force Recruiting Service, two numbered air forces and Air University. The command operates more than 1,400 trainer, fighter and mobility aircraft, 23 wings, 10 bases and five geographically separated groups. It trains more than 293,000 students per year with approximately 60,000 active-duty, Reserve, Guard, civilian and contractor personnel.[3]

Raised in Cameroon,[2] Kwast was commissioned into the Air Force upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986. After completing a Masters of Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, he was assigned to undergraduate pilot training and earned his pilot wings in June 1989. Kwast subsequently completed F-15E Strike Eagle training at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. General Kwast has served as military aide to the United States Vice President and completed a National Defense Fellowship with the Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology and Policy at Boston University, Massachusetts.[3]

Kwast commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels, including the 47th Operations Group at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina. He also served as the deputy director for Colonel Matters, Air Force Senior Leader Management Office, Washington, D.C., and as the commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. General Kwast was the deputy director for Politico-Military Affairs for Europe, NATO and Russia, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. Prior to his last assignment, General Kwast was the Commander and President, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He has more than 3,300 flying hours, including more than 650 combat hours during operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Allied Force and Enduring Freedom.[3]

Dates of promotion

Kwast was nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general by the president on August 1, 2014.[4] He was promoted to Lieutenant General November 10, 2014.[5] Kwast was nominated for appointment to the rank of major general by the president on May 3, 2011.[6] He was promoted to major general May 4, 2012.[7] On July 31, 2009 Kwast was promoted to the grade of brigadier general at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

Promotions[3]
Lieutenant GeneralNovember 10, 2014
Major GeneralMay 4, 2012
Brigadier GeneralJuly 31, 2009
ColonelAugust 1, 2003
Lieutenant ColonelJuly 1, 1999
MajorAugust 1, 1996
CaptainMay 28, 1990
First LieutenantMay 28, 1988
Second LieutenantMay 28, 1986

Education

Assignments

Awards and decorations

US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Basic Parachutist Badge
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Vice Presidential Service Badge
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges
Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges. Bronze Star Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges. Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two silver oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device and silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars
Bronze star
Kosovo Campaign Medal with service star
Bronze star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Legion of Honour, Officer (France)
NATO Medal for Service with ISAF
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Other achievements

References

  1. "Meet the new boss: Ex-special ops commander takes over at AETC". ExpressNews.com. July 26, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Polaris (PDF). Vol. XXVIII. Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1986. p. 144. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lt. Gen. Steven L. Kwast". United States Air Force. November 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. "General Officer Announcements". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
  5. "LIEUTENANT GENERAL STEVEN L. KWAST > U.S. Air Force > Biography Display". www.af.mil.
  6. "Release". www.defense.gov.
  7. "Biographies : MAJOR GENERAL STEVEN L. KWAST". Archived from the original on 12 December 2012.
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