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Colonel SAMUEL R. MINK

Colonel Samuel R. Mink is the Commander, 82nd Training Wing and Installation Commander, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He is responsible for the training of more than 65,000 officers and enlisted Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and international students annually at Sheppard AFB and 63 geographically separated units worldwide. The 82nd Training Wing produces nearly half of all Air Force technical training graduates every year, delivering instruction in aircraft and munitions maintenance, logistics, civil engineering, nuclear operations, and telecommunications career fields. The wing consists of three training groups, a mission support group and the Sheppard medical group, while providing base support services to the 80th Flying Training Wing's Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program and a Noncommissioned Officer Academy.
 
Col Mink enlisted into the Air Force in 1996 as an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technician. He received a commission in 2003 as a Distinguished Graduate of Charleston Southern University’s ROTC program.  He held numerous positions at various levels within the Air Force as well as the Joint Staff. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Deputy Commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Complex, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
 
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Technology, Criminal Justice, Charleston Southern University, Charleston, S.C.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 USAF Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, Nellis AFB, N.V.
2011 Master of Science, Business Administration, Trident University International, Vallejo, Cali.
2015 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2022 Advanced Program in Logistics and Technology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
 
ASSIGNMENTS
  1. August 2003–August 2005, Assistant Officer in Charge, 494th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and later AOIC, 493d Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom
  2. August 2005–August 2006, Maintenance and Munitions Operations Officer, 7th Air Force, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
  3. August 2006–August 2010, Accessories Flight Commander, Executive Officer, Fabrication Flight Commander, OIC 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, and 1st AMXS Maintenance Operations Officer, 1st Maintenance Group, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
  4. August 2010–July 2012, Logistics Career Broadening Program, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Robins AFB, Ga.
  5. July 2012–July 2014, Special Action Officer to the AFMC Commander, Headquarters AFMC, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
  6. July 2014–June 2015, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  7. July 2015–June 2016, Commander, 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Southwest Asia
  8. July 2016–July 2018, Commander, 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
  9. July 2018–July 2020, Political-Military Affairs Strategist, Europe-NATO-Russia, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Staff J-5, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
  10. July 2020–June 2021, Student, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
  11. June 2021–July 2022, Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
  12. July 2022–July 2023, Chief of Logistics and Sustainment, U.S Air Force F-35 Integration Office, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
  13. July 2023–July 2025, Commander, 48th Maintenance Group, RAF Lakenheath, England
  14. July 2025–June 2026, Deputy Commander, Ogden Air Logistics Complex, Hill AFB, Utah
  15. June 2026-present, Commander, 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, TX
 
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS:
1. July 2018–July 2020, Political-Military Affairs Strategist, Europe-NATO-Russia, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Staff J-5, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
 
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
NATO Medal with one device
 
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 16, 2003
First Lieutenant May 16, 2005
Captain May 16, 2007
Major May 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 1, 2016
Colonel May 1, 2022
 
(Current as of June 2026)