Col. Robert Kongaika is the commander, 325th Maintenance Group, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. He is responsible for leading military and civilian personnel in standing up of three fighter generation squadrons to support 72 combat coded F-35A Lightning II aircraft. Additionally, the group is responsible for supporting munitions requirements for exercise Combat Archer and the transition of 30 F-22 Raptors to Joint Base Langley Eustis, Virginia.
Colonel Kongaika enlisted in 1996 as a KC-135 crew chief with the 154th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Hawaii Air National Guard. In 2000, he earned a commission from University of Hawaii Detachment 175, Air Force Reserve Officer Training School. A three-time graduated squadron commander, he has also held various positions in maintenance organizations, has served as a logistics planner for 13th Air Force, a Joint Security Assistance Officer in Cairo, Egypt, and is a graduate of the National Defence College in New Delhi, India. He is married and has four children.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Brigham Young University, Hawaii
2000 Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2005 Masters of Public Administration, Webster University, Mich.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL in residence
2008 USAF Advanced maintenance Munitions Officer School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2011 Air Command Staff College, AL by correspondence
2020 Joint and Combined Warfighting School – JPME Phase II, VA in residence
Air War College, AL by correspondence.
2022 National Defence College, New Delhi, India in residence. Masters of Philosophy, Defence and Strategic Studies, University of Madras, India.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jul 1996 - Jul 1999, KC-135 Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice and Flying Crew Chief, 154th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
2. Jul 2000 - Jul 2003, Officer in Charge (OIC), Munitions Production Section and Assistant Munitions Flight Commander, 388th Maintenance Squadron; and later as Assistant OIC, 421 Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU), 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah
3. Jul 2003 - Jun 2006, Maintenance Operations Flight Commander, 56th Maintenance Operations Squadron; Assistant Maintenance Operations Officer; and later as OIC, 310 AMU, 756th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
4. Jun 2006 - Jun 2007, Maintenance Flight Commander, 8th Maintenance Squadron; and later as OIC, 80 AMU, 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
5. Jun 2007 - Jul 2011, Operations Office, 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; and later as Deputy Chief, Contingency Plans, 13th Air Force/A4, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
6. Jul 2011 - Jun 2013, Joint Security Assistance, Office of Military Cooperation, US Embassy, Egypt
7. Jun 2013 - Jun 2015, Commander, 18th Component Maintenance Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
8. Jun 2015 - Jun 2017, Commander, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy
9. Jul 2017 - Jul 2018, Commander, 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan
10. Jul 2018 – Mar 2023, Deputy Commander, 56th Maintenance Group, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
11. Jan - Nov 2022, National Defence College, New Delhi, India.
12. Dec 2022 – Mar 2023, Deputy Commander, 56 Maintenance Group, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
13. Mar 2023 – Present, Commander, 325th Maintenance Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jul 2011 - Jun 2013, Joint Security Assistance Officer, Aviation Branch, Foreign Military Sales Division, Office of Military Cooperation, US Embassy, Cairo Egypt, as a Major
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with five Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
NATO Medal
AETC and PACAF Asian Pacific American Heritage Award
(Current as of August 2023)