LIEUTENANT COLONEL KIM BENDER
Lieutenant Colonel Kim Bender is the Deputy Commandant of the Defense Information School at Fort George G. Meade, Md. She leads a team of more than 300 military, civilian and contractor professionals responsible for the world-class training of approximately 2,600 public affairs, visual information, broadcasting and broadcast maintenance professionals a year.
She earned her commission into the Air Force in 2006 from Texas State University. She is a career Public Affairs officer who has served in leadership positions at Joint, Major Command, Number Air Force and installation levels, as well as preformed information operations on the Joint Staff. Lieutenant Colonel Bender has deployed three times with her most recent one supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Arts, Communications, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
2011 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2014 Master of Science, Environmental Sciences, American Military University, Bachelor of Science, Charles Town, West Virginia
2017 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. October 2006 – October 2007, Chief of Media Relations, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Korea
2. October 2007 – July 2010, Chief of Public Affairs, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano AB, Italy
3. July 2010 – June 2013, Chief of PA Operations and Plans Division, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
4. June 2013 – June 2015, Chief of PA Plans and Policy Division, U.S. Forces Korea, Yongsan Garrison, Korea
5. June 2015 – June 2018, Joint Information Operations Officers and Executive Officer, Joint Information Operations Warfare Center, JB San Antonio – Lackland, Texas
6. June 2018 – July 2019, PA Deputy Director, Air Education and Training Command, JB San Antonio – Randolph, Texas
7. July 2019 – July 2021, Director of PA, 502nd Air Base Wing, JB San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas
8. July 2021-June 2024, Director of PA, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
9. June 2024 – Present, Deputy Commandant, Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2013 – June 2015, Chief of PA Plans and Policy Division, U.S. Forces Korea, Yongsan Garrison, Korea as a captain
2. June 2015 – June 2018, Joint Information Operations Officers and Executive Officer, Joint Information Operations Warfare Center, JB San Antonio – Lackland, Texas as a major
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with combat device
Joint Service Achievement Medal
(Current as of June 2024)