Col. Adam Kornitzer is an Instructor/Evaluator Pilot and the Commander of the 190th Operations Group, 190th Air Refueling Wing, Kansas National Guard. In this role he commands a 145-member group consisting of 2 squadrons & 1 flight, operating KC-135R aircraft. He oversees a $25M flying hour program, executing 800 annual sorties and 2,200 flying hours, managing a $122K annual budget, ensuring effective resource allocation. He also Implements Combatant Commander operational plans and requirements, ensuring unit readiness and execution, leading a warfighting echelon ready to meet contingencies both conventional & nuclear missions.
Col. Kornitzer has served in all Air Force components including 12 years active duty, three and a half years in the Air Force Reserves, and seven years in the Kansas ANG. He has served in a variety of positions to include safety officer, chief of mobility, chief of wing mission certification training, assistant director of operations, director of staff, wing plans, flight commander, and squadron commander. He is a Command Pilot with over 4,000 hours in the KC-135, C-20,and C-37 and over 6,200 total hours of flight time. He has served his country by direct participation in operations ATLANTIC RESOLVE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, UNIFIED PROTECTOR, and INHERENT RESOLVE. In addition, he has deployed for theater support in the Indo-Pacific region. Col. Kornitzer resides in Leawood, Kan. He is a Drill Status Guardsman employed by United Airlines as a first officer on Boeing 777s based in San Francisco, California.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelors in Business Administration, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, Calif.
2003 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
2005 KC-135 Pilot Initial Qualification Training, Altus AFB, Okla.
2009 USAF Central Flight Instructor Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 USAF Advanced Instrument School, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2012 GIV Initial Qualification, Flight Safety, Savannah, Ga.
2013 GV Initial Qualification, Flight Safety, Savanah, Ga.
2016 Masters in Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla.
2018 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2024 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
July 2003 - Feb 2004, Student Pilot Trainee, 12th OSS, Randolph AFB, Texas
February 2004 - November 2005, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
January 2006 - August 2006, Pilot KC-135 R/T, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
August 2006 - March 2008, Squadron Safety Officer, Pilot KC-135 R/T, 93rd ARS, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
March 2008 - November 2008, Squadron Safety Officer, Aircraft CC KC-135 R/T, 93rd ARS, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
November 2008 - April 2009, Chief of Mobility, Aircraft CC KC-135 R/T, 384th ARS, McConnell AFB, Kan.
April 2009 - October 2009, Chief of Mobility, Instructor Pilot KC-135 R/T, 384th ARS, McConnell AFB, Kan.
October 2009 - August 2010, Assistant Flight CC, Instructor Pilot KC-135 R/T, 384th ARS, McConnell AFB, Kan.
August 2010 - May 2012, Chief of Mission Certification Training, Instructor Pilot KC-135 R/T, 384th ARS, McConnell AFB, Kan.
May 2012 - April 2013, Flight Commander, Pilot C-20H/C37A, 76th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
April 2013 - January 2014, Assistant Director of Operations, Pilot C-20H/C37A, 76th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
January 2014 - February 2014, Assistant Director of Operations, Aircraft CC C-20H/C37A, 76th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
February 2014 - April 2015, OSS Director of Staff, Aircraft CC C-20H/C37A, 76th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
April 2015 - June 2015, Aircraft CC KC-135 R/T, 18th ARS, McConnell AFB, Kan.
June 2015 - October 2017, Chief of Operations/Plans, Aircraft CC KC-135 R/T, 931st Operational Support Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
October 2017 - January 2019, Aircraft CC KC-135 R/T, 18th ARS, McConnell AFB, Kan.
January 2019 - October 2019, Aircraft CC KC-135 R/T, 117th ARS, Topeka, Kan.
October 2019 - April 2023, Flight Commander, Instructor Pilot KC-135 R/T, 117th ARS, Topeka, Kan.
April 2023 - February 2026, Commander, Instructor/Evaluator Pilot KC-135 R/T, 117th ARS, Topeka, Kan.
February 2026 - Present, Commander, Instructor/Evaluator Pilot KC-135 R/T, 190th Operations Group, Topeka, Kan.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 4,000 military, including more than 1,800 combat hours; more than 6,200 total
Aircraft Flown: T-6, T-1, KC-135 R/T, C-20H, C-37A, B737, B777
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal, with nine oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air and Space Longevity Service with three oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve with two hourglass devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
Air and Space Training Ribbon
Kansas National Guard Service Medal with device
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 21 2003
First Lieutenant June 21 2005
Captain June 21 2007
Major November 1 2013
Lieutenant Colonel November 13 2019
Colonel February 8 2026
(Current as of May 2026)