Colonel M. David “PETEY” Arnold Jr. is the deputy commander of the 190th Maintenance Group, 190th Air Refueling Wing, Forbes Field, Topeka Kansas. As the deputy maintenance commander, he is responsible for the air worthiness and sortie production for a fleet of twelve KC-135 StratoTanker aircraft and the welfare of over 250 maintenance airmen. He is also a trusted member of KC-135 Maintenance Council. Colonel Arnold, a native of Durant Oklahoma, was commissioned through the United States Air Force Academy in May of 1997 and following flight school and The B-1B field training unit was assigned as a B-1B Weapons System Officer, 9th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas. Colonel Arnold served in a variety of positions to include, scheduling, safety, assistant director of operations and wing plans and programs. In January of 2003, he was assigned as Air Liaison Officer to the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division deploying for the initial invasion of Operation Iraqi Freedom and then subsequently as the commander of the Joint Air Command and Control Element, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan.
In January 2010, Colonel Arnold Palace Chased to the Kansas Air National Guard, to assume the position of Director of Operations for the fledgling 284th Air Support Operations Squadron. In 2014, he was selected to be the commander of 190th Maintenance Squadron followed by his appointment to the deputy group commander position in 2017.
Colonel Arnold is married to the former Natalie Hines of Hutchinson, Kansas and has three children, Jillian (11), Tessa (8) and Finn (5 months).
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, United States Air Force Academy, CO
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009 Masters of Science, Military Operational Arts and Science, Air University, AL
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
ASSIGNMENT
1. August 1997 – March 1998, Adjutant, 58th Airlift Squadron, Altus AFB, OK.
2. March 1998 – July 2000, student, Joint Undergraduate Flight Officer Training, Pensacola NAS, FL 3. July 2000 – December 2000, student, Electronic Warfare Officer Training, Randolph AFB, TX.
4. December 2000 – August 2001, student, B-1B Formal Training Unit Dyess AFB, TX
5. August 2001 – December 2002, B-1B Weapons System Officer, Dyess AFB, TX
6. January 2003 – March 2005 –Flight Commander, Air Liaison Officer, 19th Air Support Operations Squadron, 101st Airborne Division, Ft. Campbell, KY
7. May 2004 - November 2004, Commander, Joint Air Command and Control Element, Coalition Joint Special Operations Task Force-Alpha, Bagram AB, AFG
8. March 2005 – July 2007, Chief, Flight Safety, 9th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB TX
9. August 2006 – December 2007, Asst. Director of Operations, 9th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB TX
10. January 2008 – January 2010, Director, Plans and Programs, 7th Bomb Wing Dyess AFB TX
12. January 2010 – August 2014, Director of Operations, 284th Air Support Operations Squadron. Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range, KS
13. August 2014 – August 2017, Commander, 190th Maintenance Squadron, Forbes Field, KS
14. August 2017– August 2018, Deputy Commander, 190th Maintenance Group, Forbes Field, KS
18. August 2018 – Present, Commander, 190th Maintenance Group, Forbes Field, KS
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Navigator
Hours Flown: more than 2500
Aircraft Flown: B-1B, T-38, T-37, T-34, T-1
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 1997
First Lieutenant May 28, 1999
Captain March May 28, 2001
Major January 01, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel June 07, 2011
Colonel September 08, 2018