Col. Kristiana K. Gerdes is the Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center Commander, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado where she is responsible for personnel support to nearly 1.3 million Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, Regular Air Force and retired members, ensuring they are ready to deliver strategic Total Force war fighting capability for the Air Force. From initial entry to retirement, the center provides world-class support for “Generations of Airmen” throughout their military careers. The center is a major command direct reporting unit of Air Force Reserve Command.
Col. Gerdes entered the Air Force in 1997 earning her commission as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Colorado. In 2005, she transitioned into the Air Force Reserve and has over 27 years of leadership, and human capital management experience having served as a Force Support Squadron Commander, Mission Support Group Deputy Commander, and staff level Directorate assignments. Prior to her current assignment she served as the Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director of Personnel, Office of the Air Force Reserve, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, where she was responsible for Total Force policy development and guidance, preparing input for legislative initiatives and congressional testimony, and facilitating the integration of personnel policies within the Air Force and across the Department of Defense.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Arts degree in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo. 2002 Master of Science degree in Education, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence 2016 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1997-September 1999, Squadron Section Commander, 741st Security Forces Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.
2. September 1999-August 2000, Chief, Personnel Relocations & Employment, 302nd Mission Support Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
3. August 2000-March 2002, Chief Curriculum Development, Headquarters Air Combat Command Training Support Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
4. March 2002-July 2003, Executive Support Protocol Officer, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
5. July 2003-September 2005, Unit Admissions Officer and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Air Force ROTC Detachment 940, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo.
6. September 2005-December 2008, Manpower and Personnel Individual Mobilization Augmentee, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo. with attachment to 90th Mission Support Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
7. January 2009-October 2010, Chief, Military Personnel Flight, 302nd Mission Support Flight, Peterson AFB, Colo.
8. October 2010-September 2015, Operations Officer, 302nd Force Support Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
9. October 2015-December 2017, Commander, 934th Force Support Squadron, Minneapolis- Saint Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn.
10. December 2017-July 2019, Deputy Mission Support Group Commander, 934th Mission Support Group, Minneapolis-Saint Paul IAP ARS, Minn.
11. July 2019-July 2020, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Chief, Personnel Division, Directorate of Manpower, Personnel, and Services, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
12. July 2020-September 2022, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director, Manpower, Personnel, and Services, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
13. October 2022-February 2025, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director of Personnel, Office of the Air Force Reserve, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. February 2025-Present, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Commander, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley Space Force Base, Colo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service with five oak leaf clusters Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one hourglass device Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)
Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 15, 1997
First Lieutenant June 15, 1999
Captain June 15, 2001
Major June 15, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel September 5, 2014
Colonel July 30, 2019
(Current as of April 2025)