Colonel Kevin R. Scholz is the Commander of the 19th Maintenance Group, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. The group consists of 2 squadrons and a maintenance operations flight, over 1,100 personnel and 28 C-130J aircraft performing worldwide airlift missions. The group executes an annual flying-hour program of nearly 17,000 hours and an operating budget of more than $2.7 million.
Colonel Scholz, a native of Vancouver, Washington, enlisted in the Air Force in 1992 as an F-15 Eagle Crew Chief, earning Technical Training “Honor Graduate” recognition, and was commissioned in 2005 through Officer Training School as “The Outstanding Graduate” and Cadet of the Year. In addition, he was competitively selected to serve as Executive Officer to the Director of Logistics, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon; the Presidential Maintenance Operations Officer, responsible for the safe, reliable, fixed-wing transportation of the President of the United States; and selected to serve as a Legislative Fellow working directly for a Member of Congress in Washington D.C. He commanded the 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dover, Delaware, where his Dedicated Crew Chief Program received National attention through Air Force Magazine.
He previously served as the Deputy Commander, 19th Maintenance Group, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, where he led 1,100 personnel through five Air Force Forces Generation (AFFORGEN) certification events, and then deployed to Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait as the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Chief of Staff where his team executed the first real-world track, transfer, and Kuwaiti fighter intercept of an enemy drone. He was also responsible for operating “The Theater Gateway,” receiving and transporting more than 60% of all United States Central Command’s (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR) cargo and equipment. He received his undergraduate degree from Wayland Baptist University and holds master’s degrees from Touro University in Logistics Management and Air Command and Staff College in Military Operational Art and Science. He is a graduate of the Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School and is a certified Life Cycle Logistician through the Defense Acquisition University. Most recently, prior to his current assignment, Colonel Scholz served as the Chief, Logistics Operations Division, Directorate of Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection at Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. A selectively manned unit, the Logistics Operations Division is responsible for the sizing, sourcing, and tasking of Air Mobility Command Logistics Resources in support of deployment rotations, global contingency operations, and for the movement of United States “Top 5” Executive personnel. In this role, he also managed logistics unit type codes (UTC) and maintained Air Force-wide UTC availability for aircraft maintenance, air and ground transportation, supply, and fuels support.
EDUCATION
2002 - Bachelor of Science, Occupational Education; Wayland Baptist University TX
2005 - Officer Training School (The Outstanding Graduate), Maxwell AFB AL
2005 - Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course (Distinguished Graduate), Sheppard AFB TX
2005 - Aerospace Basic Course (Outstanding Contributor), Maxwell AFB AL
2007 - Master of Business Administration, Logistics Management (Summa Cum Laude); Touro University CA
2010 - Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB AL
2011 - Maintenance Officer Intermediate Course, Sheppard AFB TX
2012 - Advanced Maintenance & Munitions Officer School (AMMOS), Nellis AFB NV
2017 - Master of Arts, Military Operational Art and Science (With Highest Academic Distinction); Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB AL
2020 - Air War College Correspondence Course, Maxwell AFB AL
2024 - Joint Humanitarian Operations Course, US Department of State, Washington DC
ASSIGNMENTS
- Feb 1993 - Apr 1998: Assistant Dedicated Crew Chief, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB FL
- Apr 1998 - Apr 2001: Dedicated Crew Chief (78-0539), 44th Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB Japan
- Apr 2001 - Apr 2005: Instructor/ Instructor Supervisor, 362d Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB TX
- Jul 2005 - Apr 2006: Support Flight Commander, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; MacDill AFB FL
- Apr 2006 - Apr 2007: Fabrication Flight Commander, 6th Maintenance Squadron; MacDill AFB FL
- Jan 2007 - Apr 2007: Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU) Officer in Charge (OIC), 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Anderson AFB Guam
- Apr 2007 - Jun 2008: Executive Officer, 6th Maintenance Group; MacDill AFB FL
- Jun 2008 - Aug 2009: Assistant AMU OIC, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; MacDill AFB FL
- Sep 2008 - Jan 2009: Operations Officer, 380th Maintenance Squadron, Al Dhafra AB UAE
- Aug 2009 - Mar 2011: AMU OIC, 116th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; Robins AFB GA
- Mar 2011 - Sep 2011: Operations Officer, 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; Kandahar Airfield Afghanistan
- Sep 2011 - Jun 2012: Operations Officer, 461st Maintenance Squadron; Robins AFB GA
- Jun 2012 - Jun 2013: Executive Officer to the Air Force Director of Logistics; Headquarters Air Force,the Pentagon, Washington DC
- Jun 2013 - Jul 2014: Chief, Contract Logistics Support Programs, Directorate of Resource Integration, the Pentagon, Washington DC
- Jul 2014 - Jul 2016: Presidential Maintenance Operations Officer, Joint Base Andrews MD
- Jul 2016 - Apr 2018: Air Force Legislative Fellow, Capitol Hill, Washington DC
- Apr 2018 - Jul 2021: Commander, 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dover AFB DE
- Jul 2021 - Jul 2025: Deputy Commander, 19th Maintenance Group, Little Rock AFB AR
- Nov 2024 - Apr 2025: Chief of Staff, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ali Al Salem AB Kuwait
- Jul 2025 - Jun 2026: Chief, Logistics Operations Division, Directorate of Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection, Scott AFB IL
- Jun 2026 - Present: Commander, 19th Maintenance Group, Little Rock AFB AR
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Recognition Ribbon (USAF Lt Gen Leo Marquez Award, 2011)
National Defense Service Medal with Service Star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Service Stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal with Service Star
Humanitarian Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic 1 Sep 1992
Airman 1 Mar 1993
Airman First Class 1 Jan 1994
Senior Airman 1 Sep 1995
Staff Sergeant 1 Aug 1998
Technical Sergeant 1 Jul 2001
Master Sergeant 1 Jul 2004
Second Lieutenant 1 Apr 2005
First Lieutenant 1 Apr 2007
Captain 1 Apr 2009
Major 1 Jul 2015
Lieutenant Colonel 1 Dec 2019
Colonel 1 May 2026
(Current as of July 2026)