Air Force promotes Col. Ryan Aerni

Colonel Ryan J. Aerni, son of Mel and Kathy Aerni of Madrid, was promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel of the Unites States Air Force at a recent ceremony at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. 

Col. Aerni serves as Chief of the Aircrew Operations and Training Division and Headquarters of the Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base. 

In this capacity, he directs a staff of more than 145 people at headquarters and five detachment locations. He is also responsible for oversight of initial and recurring training for mobility aircrews. He manages aircrew training development, flight equipment and aviation resource management for 16 weapon systems involving over 200 programs, 1,240 aircraft, 16,000 aircrew members and $820 million in budget authority per year. 

Col. Aerni is a key contributor to the Program Evaluation Group, Budget Advisory and Requirement Review Boards. He has direct oversight of aircrew training systems contracts, rated force managements and flight equipment programs while publishing training guidance for all delivery, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. 

Col. Aerni is a command pilot with more than 5,600 flying hours, including over 1,000 combat hours. 

He graduated from Wheatland High School in 1993 After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Management from United States Air Force Academy in 1997, he attended pilot training at Columbus AFB in Mississippi.  

He has been married to his wife, Kristine, for 21 years and they have three children, Alexandra, Connor and Shayla.