154th Wing Commander

BRIGADIER GENERAL KRISTOF K. SILLS

Brig Gen Kristof K. Sills serves as the 154th Wing Commander. He is responsible for 2,500 Hawaii Air National Guardsmen performing F-22, KC-135, C-17, tactical and operational level command and control, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, combat communications, and air traffic control operations throughout the Indo-Pacific theater and globally, while ensuring those forces are ready to protect life, limb and property as tasked by the Governor of the State of Hawaii.

He serves as a key advisor to the Adjutant General. He develops policy and formulates long-range strategic plans and short-term plans/programs. He provides thorough and extensive knowledge of Air Force organizational structures, missions and objectives in the management of Air National Guard programs.

Brig Gen Sills graduated with honors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1995 and received his commission from the Academy of Military Science in 1998. He is a distinguished graduate of undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas and a distinguished graduate of the F-15C initial qualification course at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Oregon. Prior to assuming his current position, Brig Gen Sills was the Director of Staff for Headquarters, Hawaii Air National Guard.

In his civilian capacity, the general is a pilot with a legacy airline. He is a command pilot with more than 2,600 hours in the F-22A Raptor and F-15C Eagle including over 100 combat hours. He has flown missions in support of Operations NOBLE EAGLE and INHERENT RESOLVE.

EDUCATION

1995 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Ariz.
1998 Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala., by correspondence
2008 United States Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2019 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2021 Indo-Pacific Orientation Course, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawaii
2022 Joint and Combined Warfighting School-Hybrid, National Defense University, Norfolk, Va.
2023 Dual Status Commander Orientation Course, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colo.

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. November 1998 – November 1999, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
  2. November 1999 – May 2000, Student, F-15C Initial Qualification, 114th Fighter Squadron, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
  3. May 2000 – June 2002, F-15C Flight Lead, Chief of Scheduling, 199th Fighter Squadron, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
  4. June 2002 – June 2004, F-15C Mission Commander, Chief of Training, 199th Fighter Squadron, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
  5. June 2004 – December 2007, F-15C Instructor, Chief of Advanced Programs, 154th Wing, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
  6. January 2008 – June 2008, Student, F-15C Weapons Instructor Course, 433d Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
  7. July 2008 – March 2010, F-15C Instructor, Chief of Squadron Weapons, 199th Fighter Squadron, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
  8. March 2010 – June 2010, Student, F-22A Transition Course, 43d Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
  9. July 2010 – June 2011, F-22A Instructor, Chief of Squadron Weapons, 199th Fighter Squadron, JBPHH, Hawaii
  10. June 2011 – June 2013, F-22A Instructor, Chief of Wing Weapons, 154th Ops Support Squadron, JBPHH, Hawaii
  11. June 2011 – June 2012, Action Officer, Policy and Strategy Division, PACAF/A5U, JBPHH, Hawaii
  12. June 2012 – June 2013, Assistant Director of Operations, 154th Operations Support Squadron, JBPHH, Hawaii
  13. June 2013 – June 2014, F-22A Instructor, Assistant Director of Operations, 199th Fighter Squadron, JBPHH, Hawaii
  14. June 2014 – June 2015, F-22A Evaluator, Director of Operations, 199th Fighter Squadron, JBPHH, Hawaii
  15. June 2015 – December 2017, Commander, 199th Fighter Squadron, JBPHH, Hawaii (September 2015 – April 2016, Commander, 199th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates)
  16. December 2017 – December 2019, Strategic Planner, 201st Combat Operations Squadron, JBPHH, Hawaii
  17. January 2020 – March 2021, Director of Operations, Headquarters, Hawaii Air National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  18. November 2020 – March 2023, Director of Staff, Headquarters, Hawaii Air National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  19. April 2023 – present, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Hawaii Air National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,800 including more than 100 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38A, F-15A/B/C/D, F-16D, F-22A

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • Legion of Merit
  • Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
  • Air Medal with valor device
  • Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
  • Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 1999 Distinguished Graduate, Undergraduate Pilot Training
  • 1999 Air Education and Training Command, Commander’s Trophy, Undergraduate Pilot Training
  • 1999 Flying Training Award, Undergraduate Pilot Training
  • 1999 Academic Training Award, Undergraduate Pilot Training
  • 2000 Distinguished Graduate, F-15C Initial Qualification Course
  • 2009 Instructor Pilot of the Year, 199th Fighter Squadron
  • 2010 Fighter Pilot of the Year, 199th Fighter Squadron
  • 2011 PACAF Team of the Year, Headquarters PACAF
  • 2013 Outstanding Air Officer Award, Hawaii National Guard Association

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

  • Second Lieutenant Sept. 24, 1998
  • First Lieutenant Sept. 24, 2000
  • Captain May 22, 2003
  • Major Dec. 5, 2007
  • Lieutenant Colonel July 10, 2014
  • Colonel May 1, 2020
  • Brigadier General April 1, 2023

(Current as of November 2023)