COL Terrry T. Kono, USAF, Joint Futures Command

Colonel Terry T. Kono received his Air Force commission on November 4, 1982 through Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Following commissioning, Colonel Kono attended Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather Air Force Base, California, receiving a B-52 Electronic Warfare Officer assignment to Mather Air Force Base. He then attended the Electronic Warfare Officer Training course at Mather Air Force Base. He completed B-52 combat crew training at Castle Air Force Base, California.

Upon completion of initial qualification training, Colonel Kono was assigned to the 441st Bombardment Squadron at Mather Air Force Base. There, he served as Electronic Warfare Officer, Executive Officer to the Director of Operations, and Standardization/Evaluation Instructor Electronic Warfare Officer.

Colonel Kono was selected to cross-train to the B-1 in 1986. He attended B-1 combat crew training at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, with a follow-on assignment to Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. As a member of the 77th Bomb Squadron, he served as Defensive Systems Officer, Standardization/Evaluation Defensive Systems Officer, Training Flight Defensive/Offensive Systems Officer, and Flight Commander.

Colonel Kono was then assigned as an English instructor at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. In addition to teaching first-year literature and composition, he was responsible for upper-level courses in fiction, poetry, and professional writing. He participated as a platoon commander and S1/S4 in the Marine Corps’ Military Leadership Training for academy midshipmen, and was responsible for managing the Navy-Air Force exchange program for Naval Academy graduates receiving Air Force commissions.

From 1996 to 1997, Colonel Kono attended Air Command and Staff College. He was then assigned to the 28th Bomb Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, the Formal Training Unit responsible for all B-1 initial qualification, requalification, and instructor training. He served as Director of Flight Operations and Assistant Director of Operations.

In 1999, Colonel Kono became the Director of Operations for 7th Operations Group, Detachment 1, the unit assigned to stand up the 13th Bomb Squadron.

Colonel Kono assumed command of the 436th Training Squadron in June 2000. In November 2002, Colonel Kono was assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, as the 28th Operations Group Deputy Commander. He attended the National War College at Fort McNair, D.C., from August 2004 to June 2005 and is currently assigned to U.S. Joint Forces Command.

Colonel Kono is a Master Navigator with over 3,300 flying hours, including over 700 hours in the B-52G and 2,400 hours in the B-1. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star.