CMSgt Stefan Kuhn is Component Maintenance Flight Superintendent at 190th Air Refueling Wing, Forbes Field, Topeka, Kansas. Chief Kuhn is responsible for providing fully trained, qualified and combat-ready maintenance personnel to generate mission ready KC-135R aircraft and associated equipment. His primary focus is supporting contingency operations by providing rapid global mobility airpower in support of the total force mission of the Kansas Air National and the United States Air Force.
CMSgt Kuhn manages the avionics section, the propulsion section, and the accessories section within the Maintenance Squadron. He supervises three section supervisors and their areas in their daily operations and their overall long-term mission readiness. He provides visible and active leadership and is responsible to the MXS Commander including the defining of the commander's expectations to all subordinate personnel in the flight.
Chief Kuhn enlisted in the Kansas Air National Guard 190th Air Refueling Group on August 2, 1986. He completed Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in November of that year. His follow-on technical training as an aircraft maintenance journeyman was at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, which he completed in January of 1987. Upon his return to Forbes Field, he served as a member of the 190th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Phase Docks section and worked as an aircraft mechanic conducting isochronal aircraft inspections and scheduled maintenance on KC-135E aircraft. After returning from Operation Desert Storm in 1991, he transferred to the 190th Aircraft Generation Squadron serving as a traditional crew chief on aircraft 57-1463. CMSgt Kuhn became a full-time technician in March 2001 and worked as an assistant crew chief on the same aircraft he crewed as a traditional guardsman. In June 2007, he transitioned into a lead crew chief position until he returned to the Phase Docks as the Iso Docks supervisor in July 2018. He has participated in Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM, NORTHERN WATCH, JOINT GUARD, ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM SENTINEL, and ATLANTIC RESOLVE. Prior to assuming his current position as Component Maintenance Flight Superintendent, Chief Master Sergeant Kuhn served as the Inspection Section Supervisor, 190th Air Refueling Wing, Forbes Field, Topeka, Kan.
EDUCATION
1990 Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory Military Course
2004 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Non-Residence
2017 United States Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Non-Residence
2017 Community College of the Air Force Degree, Aircraft Maintenance Technology
2022 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I
2023 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II
ASSIGNMENTS
August 1986 - June 1992, Aircraft Mechanic, 190th CAMS, Forbes Field ANG, Topeka, Kan.
June 1992 – February 2003, Aircraft Mechanic Crew Chief, 190th AGS, Forbes Field ANG, Topeka, Kan.
February 2003 – August 2018, Aircraft Mechanic Crew Chief, 190th AMXS, Forbes Field ANG, Topeka, Kan.
August 2018 – January 2020, ISO Dock Supervisor, 190th MXS, Forbes Field ANG, Topeka, Kan.
January 2020 – January 2023, Inspection Section Supervisor, 190th MXS, Forbes Field ANG, Topeka, Kan.
January 2023 – Present, Component Maintenance Flight Superintendent, 190th MXS, Forbes Field ANG, Topeka, Kan.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with V Device and two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Service Ribbon Short
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with eight oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hourglass devices
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)
Air and Space Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Kansas National Guard Service Medal with three devices
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman August 2, 1986
Airman First Class March 24, 1987
Senior Airman September 12, 1988
Sergeant March 5, 1990
Staff Sergeant March 7, 1992
Technical Sergeant April 23, 1999
Master Sergeant February 27, 2012
Senior Master Sergeant March 4, 2020
Chief Master Sergeant January 30, 2023
(Current as of August 2023)