Brig. Gen. Kenyon K. Bell is the Director of Logistics and Engineering, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. As director, he leads more than 350 professionals across nine divisions. He is responsible for integrating strategy, policy, resources, performance management and human capital development in support of the more than 12,800 maintenance, munitions, supply, transportation and civil engineering personnel who serve throughout the command. A4 is responsible for integration, advocacy and oversight of the nation's largest nuclear weapon storage facility, its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles and Nuclear Command, Control, and Communication weapons systems, B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, while also performing lead command functions for the Air Force's UH-1N helicopter fleet, the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft. Brig. Gen. Bell provides combatant commanders with combat-ready forces and equipment to conduct the strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations.
Brig. Gen. Bell was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1995. He has commanded units stateside and overseas at the squadron, group and wing levels. Brig. Gen. Bell has served in multiple staff positions, including assignments at Headquarters Air Force and The Chairman’s Joint Staff, as well as Aide de Camp to the Commander, U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Commander, 82nd Training Wing and Installation Commander at Sheppard AFB, Texas.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Master of Military Studies, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico Marine Base, Va.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Advanced Program in Logistics and Technology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2014 Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2015 Depot and Arsenal Executive Leadership Program, The Institute for Defense and Business, Kenan-Flagler School of Business, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2015 Lean Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul, Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2016 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1995–October 1995, Student, Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 1995–June 1999, Accessories and Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight Commander, 89th Maintenance Squadron; later Transient Alert Officer-in-Charge and Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 89th Aircraft Generation Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md.
3. June 1999–November 2000, Chief, Quality Assurance, 374th Logistics Group; later Maintenance Supervisor, 374th Maintenance Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan
4. November 2000–November 2001, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, 5th Air Force and United States Forces Japan, Yokota AB, Japan
5. December 2001–December 2002, Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 35th Fighter Squadron; later 80th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer-in-Charge, 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kunsan AB, South Korea
6. December 2002–June 2004, 94th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer-in-Charge, 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; later, Maintenance Supervisor, 1st Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
7. June 2004–June 2006, Chief, Fighter and Trainer Aircraft Systems, Directorate of Maintenance; later, Assistant Executive Officer, Directorate of Maintenance, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. July 2006–July 2007, Executive Officer, Directorate of Resource Integration, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. July 2007–June 2008, Student, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico Marine Base, Va.
10. July 2008–June 2010, Commander, 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; (July 2009–January 2010, Commander, 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan)
11. July 2010–July 2013, Strategy Branch Chief and later Readiness Branch Chief, Directorate of Logistics (J-4), The Joint Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. July 2013–June 2014, Student, College of Naval Warfare, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
13. July 2014–June 2015, Deputy Commander, 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group, Tinker AFB, Okla.
14. June 2015–April 2017, Commander, 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group, Tinker AFB, Okla.
15. May 2017–June 2019, Commander, 72nd Air Base Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla.
16. June 2019–July 2021, Commander, 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
17. July 2021–present, Director of Logistics and Engineering, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2010–July 2013, Strategy Branch Chief and later Readiness Branch Chief, Directorate of Logistics (J-4), The Joint Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with silver leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device
Korean Defense Service Medal
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2009 Air Force Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award
(Current as of August 2021)