Col. Kenneth M. Lute is the Commander of the 624th Regional Support Group, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The 624 RSG delivers mission essential capability to combatant commanders through combat readiness, quality management, peacetime deployment, and execution of six geographically separated units in the Pacific area of responsibility. The Group is the largest Air Force Reserve presence in the Pacific, providing nearly 700 combat-ready Airmen who specialize in aerial port, aeromedical support, and civil engineering operations for worldwide employment.
Col. Lute, a native of Lockport, N.Y., graduated from Starpoint High School in 1980. He was a direct commission as a second lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps in 1988. After separating from active duty in 1987, Col. Lute joined the Air Force Reserve, serving as a traditional reservist from 1987 to 2000, and an Air Reserve Technician from 2000 to 2015. Colonel Lute has served in numerous operational and command assignments throughout his 30 year career. He deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in 2006, and was assigned to the 755th Expeditionary Mission Support Group. While deployed, he maintained complete accountability of Air Force members in country and provided support to the Provincial Reconstruction Teams.
Prior to assuming his current position, Col. Lute served as the commander of the 439th Mission Support Group, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. In this capacity, he lead more than 1,000 military and civilian employees of the 439th MSG, providing support services which included civil engineering, civilian and military personnel, security forces, communications, morale, welfare and recreation, base readiness, logistics readiness, supply, transportation, aerial ports, and bioenvironmental engineering.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, New School for Social Research, New York, N.Y.
1999 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Masters of Religion in Church Ministry, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.
2008 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1988 - May 2001, Officer In Charge Medical Readiness, Medical Service Corps, 914th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y.
2. June 2001 - January 2007, Commander, 914th Mission Support Flight, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
3. February 2007 - June 2010, Commander, 315th Mission Support Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
4. July 2010 – June 2012, Deputy Commander, 439th Mission Support Group, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.
5. July 2012 – May 2015, Commander, 439th Mission Support Group, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.
6. June 2015 – Present, Commander, 624th Regional Support Group, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two M devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Sept. 20, 1988
First Lieutenant April 11, 1991
Captain Sept. 20, 1995
Major April 20, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 2, 2007
Colonel July 15, 2012
ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Reserve Officers Association, Life Member
Ordained Minister, Church of God
(Current as of October 2016)