Col. Jennifer L. King is the Commander of the New York Air National Guard’s 224th Air Defense Squadron. Deployed in place in Rome, New York to execute the Eastern Air Defense Sector’s federal mission, the 224th ADS is responsible for the air defense of the eastern U.S.
Col. King graduated in 1997 from the University of Virginia with a biology degree and was commissioned in 2003 upon completion of the Air Force Officer Training School. After completing the Undergraduate Air Battle Manager School at Tyndall AFB, Florida, Col. King was assigned to the 965th Air Control Squadron at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, where she served as an Air Weapons Officer, Air Surveillance Officer, Flight Scheduler and Surveillance Flight Commander. In 2009, Col. King was assigned as an Instructor ABM at the 325th Air Control Squadron at Tyndall AFB, where her duties included Executive Officer and Operations Training Officer.
In 2011, Col. King joined to the New York Air National Guard and was assigned to EADS in Rome, New York, where she has earned qualifications as an Air Weapons Officer, Senior Director, Joint Interface Control Officer, and Mission Crew Commander. While serving as the JICO, Col. King was simultaneously assigned to the Command and Control Requirements Office where she managed multiple projects, including advanced sensor integration, integrated fire control, the Joint Land-Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) and the Joint Multi-Platform Advanced Combat Identification (JMAC). As a Flight Commander, Col. King led 52 operators during 76 Presidential temporary flight restrictions and 211 tactical actions, earning the Air National Guard’s Ground-Based Battle Management Command and Control Crew of the Year award. After serving as Flight Commander, Col. King became the 224th Air Defense Squadron’s Director of Operations.
Prior to her current position, Col. King was the 224th ADS Commander.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Arts, Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
2003 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Master of Arts, National Security Studies, Manassas, Va., by correspondence
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2003–October 2004, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Student, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
2. October 2004–February 2009, Air Surveillance Officer, Flight Commander, Tinker AFB, Okla.
3. March 2009–June 2011, Air Battle Manager Instructor, Operations Training Officer, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. June 2011–June 2023, Mission Crew Commander, Director of Operations, 224th Air Defense Squadron, Rome, N.Y.
5. June 2023–present, Commander, 224th Air Defense Squadron, Rome, N.Y.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air Force Longevity Service medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Top Graduate, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Course, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
2005 Distinguished Graduate, E-3B/C Air Weapons Officer Course, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2008 Distinguished Graduate, E-3B/C Airborne Surveillance Officer Course, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Battle Management Instructor Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2010 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air National Guard Air Battle Manager of the Year
2013 CONR Command and Control Warrior of the Year
2013 Honor Graduate, Air Operations Center Joint Interface Control Course, Hurlburt AFB, Fla.
2016 Outstanding Distinction, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 CONR Field Grade Officer of the Year
2021 NORAD Field Grade Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant August 8, 2003
First Lieutenant August 8, 2005
Captain August 8, 2007
Major January 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel August 2, 2018
Colonel July 27, 2023
(Current as of July 2024)