Colonel Jarrod K. Frantz is Commander of the 190th Air Refueling Wing, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas. The Wing operates and maintains a fleet of 12 KC-135R aircraft and is comprised of 980 military members including Joint Force Headquarters (KS) Staff. The 190th provides rapid global mobility airpower and deploys expeditionary forces in support of worldwide combat, contingency and humanitarian operations in addition to maintaining a nuclear deterrence tasking. The Wing also supports the State of Kansas and the Nation in times of disaster and domestic emergency response.
Colonel Frantz enlisted in the 190th ARW in August 1985 and served as a Crew Chief with the 190th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. In October 1988 he was selected as a Boom Operator for the 117th ARS and graduated from the Combat Crew Training School at Castle AFB, CA. in 1989. As a Boom Operator, he logged over 900 hours and was amongst the first crews to deploy in support of Operation Desert Shield. He graduated from Washburn University, Topeka, KS with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in May 1992. He was commissioned at the Air Guard Academy of Military Science in September 1992 and completed Undergraduate Pilot Training in December 1993 at Laughlin AFB, TX followed by KC-135 Combat Crew Training at Castle AFB, CA in 1994.
Since receiving his commission, Colonel Frantz has served as 117th ARS Executive Officer, Element Leader "A" Flight, Commander "A" Flight, 117th ARS Operations Officer 117th ARS Commander and 190th Operations Group Commander. His professional military education includes Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College. He is a Command Pilot with over 4000 hours in the KC-135 E/D/R aircraft and over 9400 total heavy jet hours. He has flown over 75 combat/combat support sorties totaling over 460 hours in direct support of Operations Deny Flight, Joint Endeavor, Deliberate Guard, Allied Force, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and Unified Protector.
EDUCATION:
1992 Bachelors Business Administration/ Finance, Washburn University, Topeka, KS
1994 USAF Tactical Deception Course
1997 Defense Logistics Agency Government Flight Representative Course
1998 USAF Advanced Instrument School
2000 Squadron Officer School
2003 ANG Intermediate Leadership Development Course
2005 Air Command and Staff College
2008 Contemporary Base Issues Course
2008 Air War College
ASSIGNMENTS:
APR 1997-SEP 1999: Logistics Group Chief of Quality Assurance, 190ARW
OCT 1999-JUN 2005: Element Leader "A" Flight, 117th ARS
APR 2003-JUN 2005: Executive Officer, 117th ARS
JUN 2005-AUG 2007: Flight Commander "A" Flight, 117th ARS
AUG 2007-OCT 2010: Operations Officer, 117th ARS
OCT 2010-NOV 2013: Commander, 117th ARS
Nov 2013-APR 2015: Commander, 190th Operations Group
APR 2015-Present: Commander, 190th Air Refueling Wing
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 3800 military; 7500 total
Aircraft Flown: T-41, T-37, T-38, KC135E/D/R, F-100, MD-80
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Kansas National Guard Commendation Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
MD-80 First Officer - American Airlines
Life Member - National Guard Association of the United States and Kansas