Colonel Kersten is currently the commander of the 354th Medical Group, 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska. He is charged with the operational readiness, training, morale, welfare, and career development of 207 personnel. Colonel Kersten leads the Medical Group in the execution of world-class medical care for 8,600 beneficiaries and the management of five million dollars in resources. The Medical Group directly supports the Wing’s Airmen who expertly prepare U.S. and allied aviation forces for combat, are ready to deploy in support of global operations, and are prepared to enable the staging of civilian and military forces to promote U.S. national interest in the Asia-Pacific region.
Colonel Kersten entered the Air Force in April 1994 as a Dental Technician. He commissioned in 2000 and entered the Medical Service Corps in 2003. Colonel Kersten has led multiple Flights, was a Group Practice Manager at the 18th Medical Group, was the 618th Air and Space Operations Center’s Aeromedical Evacuation Branch Chief, and served as Air Mobility Command’s Manpower, Equipment and Force Packaging Branch Chief. Additionally he was the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron’s Director of Operations, the 39th Medical Group’s Administrator, Commander of the 39th Medical Support Squadron, and the Deputy Command Surgeon for the United States European Command. Prior to his current position, he was the Commander of the 59th Medical Support Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
Colonel Kersten is a board certified Resource and Materials Professional through the American Hospital Association and has extensive operational wartime, contingency, and humanitarian relief experience. He has deployed twice in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM as the Director of Operations for Aeromedical Evacuation Operations Teams. While assigned to Scott AFB, IL, he planned and executed the Aeromedical Evacuation of personnel from Louisiana and Texas during hurricanes Gustav and Ike, as well as the Aeromedical Evacuation efforts of Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE, Haiti. He has been instrumental in training European and African partners in Aeromedical Evacuation.
EDUCATION
1999 Associate of Science, Dental Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force AFB, Ala. 2000 Associate of Science, Accounting, Park University, Parkville, Mo.
2000 Bachelor of Science, Management/Marketing, Park University, Parkville, Mo., Magna Cum Laude 2004 Master of Business Administration, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Fla.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1994 – September 1997, Assistant NCOIC, Dental Radiology, 18th Dental Squadron, Kadena Air Base (AB), Okinawa, Japan
2. September 1997 – June 2000, NCOIC Preventive Dentistry, 341st Dental Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB), Mont.
3. October 2000 – January 2003, Budget Analyst, 53d Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
4. January 2003 – August 2004, Patient Administration Flight Chief, 96th Medical Support Flight Commander, Eglin AFB, Fla.
5. August 2004 – July 2005, Chief, Resource Utilization, 96th Medical Support Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
6. July 2005 – June 2006, Group Practice Manager, 18th Medical Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan
7. June 2006 – May 2007, Chief, Expeditionary Medical Operations, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan (December 2006 – May 2007, Director of Operations, 332d Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight, Joint Base Balad, Iraq)
8. May 2007 – May 2008, Aeromedical Evacuation Support Flight Commander, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan
9. June 2008 – July 2011, Chief, Aeromedical Evacuation Mission Support and Contingency Operations Branch, 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker/Airlift Control Center), Scott AFB, Ill.
10. July 2011 – May 2012, Fellow, Manpower, Equipment & Force Package Branch, HQ AMC/SG, Scott AFB, Ill.
11. May 2012 – May 2014, Chief, Manpower, Equipment & Force Package Branch, HQ AMC/SG, Scott AFB, Ill. (January 2013 – May 2013, Director of Operations, 775th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight, Kelly AB, Tex)
12. May 14 – Jun 2016, Director of Operations, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
13. Jun 2016 – Jun 2017, Commander, 39th Medical Support Squadron and Chief Administrator, 39th Medical Group, Incirlik AB, Turkey
14. Jun 2017 – Jun 2019, Deputy Command Surgeon, Headquarters United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany
15. Jun 2019 – Present, Commander 59th Medical Support Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Tex.
16. June 2021 – Present, Commander 354th Medical Group, Eielson AFB, Alaska
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jun 2017 – Jun 2019, Deputy Command Surgeon, Headquarters United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, as a Lieutenant Colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Public Health Service Unit Commendation Award Combat Readiness Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Certified Materials and Resources Professional, American Hospital Association
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September 29, 2000
First Lieutenant September 29, 2002
Captain September 29, 2004
Major October 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel September 1, 2014
Colonel April 1, 2021
(CURRENT AS OF JUNE 21)