COLONEL JASON L. KNOBBE
Col. Jason L. Knobbe is the commander of the 184th Wing, Kansas Air National Guard, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Col. Knobbe commands more than 1,300 Guardsmen who execute a broad spectrum of missions including intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber and information operations, and command and control. In addition, the wing fields a full complement of support functions including civil engineering, security forces, medical, and force support units. All of these missions greatly enhance the Air Force’s capability to provide actionable intelligence and information dominance for combat forces around the globe.
Col. Knobbe is a 1994 graduate of the University of Kansas. He went on to earn a Master’s of Science, Education and a Reserve Officer Training Corps commission from the University of Kansas in 1998. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the vice commander of the 184th Wing; commander of the 184th Missions Support Group; and the commander of the 177th Information Aggressor Squadron (a National Security Agency Certified Cyber and Information Operations Red Team). He also served as the deputy group commander for the 184th Regional Support Group, at the time, the second largest group in the Air National Guard. Col. Knobbe is a Cyberspace Operations Officer, Aircraft Commander, and a Weapons Systems Operator whose assignments span all three career fields. Throughout his career, Col. Knobbe has supported several deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science, Education, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan.
1998 Masters of Science, Education, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan.
2006 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2006 KC-135 Aircraft Commander Training, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2009 Cyber X Course
2012 Air War College, by correspondence
2013 ANG Commanders’ Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2015 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Joint and Combined Warfighter School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1998 - October 1999, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
2. October 1999 - March 2000, Student, Electronic Warfare Officer Training, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
3. March 2000 - October 2000, Student, Weapons Systems Officer, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
4. October 2000 - July 2002, Weapons Systems Officer, 127th Bomb Squadron, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
5. July 2002 - August 2003, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
6. August 2003 - June 2006, Deputy Chief of Tactics, 127th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
7. June 2006 - July 2007, Chief of Scheduling, 127th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
8. July 2007 - November 2008, Influence Operations Team Chief, 177th Information Aggressor Squadron, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
9. November 2008 - February 2011, Network Warfare Operations Flight Commander, 177th Information Aggressor Squadron, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
10. February 2011 - July 2011, Assistant Director of Operations, 177th Information Aggressor Squadron, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
11. July 2011 - October 2014, Commander, 177th Information Aggressor Squadron, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
12. October 2014 - September 2015, Deputy Commander, 184th Regional Support Group, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
13. October 2015 - May 2018, Commander, 184th Mission Support Group, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
14. May 2018 - April 2020, Vice Commander, 184th Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
15. April 2020 - present, Commander, 184th Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,000
Aircraft flown: T-34, T-39, T-1, T-37, B-1B, and KC-135 R/T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
National Guard Association of the United States, Life Member
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Distinguished Graduate Navigator Training
Distinguished Graduate Pilot Training
Distinguished Graduate Basic Communications Officer Training
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant – April 29, 1998
First Lieutenant – April 29, 2000
Captain – April 29, 2002
Major – June 2, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel – June 10, 2010
Colonel – January 2016
(Current as of April 2020)