Colonel Kristen M. Torma is the Commander, 51st Maintenance Group, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. She is responsible for the daily flying and maintenance operations, intermediate level maintenance, component repair, and maintenance training for a combat wing with 84 permanently assigned F-16s fighter jet aircraft worth 3.36 billion dollars. She controls and allocates resources, directs the activities of 1,629 personnel and develops and implements plans to meet the wing’s operational tasking.
Colonel Torma received her commission in 2006 via the ROTC program at Wilkes University while earning her degree from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania. During her career, she has led deployed flightline maintenance operations in support of Operations Odyssey Dawn, Unified Protector, and New Dawn. She has served in a variety of maintenance assignments in AETC, AMC, ACC, USAFE, PACAF and AFMC. She has held numerous positions at the field level, on MAJCOM Staff, HAF Staff, and command twice at the squadron level. Prior to her current assignment, Colonel Torma was the 49th Wing Chief of Staff, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
EDUCATION
2006 - Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, University of Scranton, Pa.
2006 - Air Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 - Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 - USAF Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2018 - Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 - Certified Professional Innovator, University of Michigan, College of Engineering
2023 - Master of Strategic Studies with Grand Strategy Concentration, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2006 – Sept 2006, Student, Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. Sept 2006 – June 2008, Assist Officer in Charge, 48th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
3. June 2008 – May 2009, Fabrication Flight Commander, 19th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
4. May 2009 – July 2010, Executive Officer to the Commander, 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
5. July 2010 – June 2011, Officer in Charge, 81st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 52 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany.
6. June 2011 – July 2012, Officer in Charge, 480th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 52 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany.
7. July 2012 – July 2014, Logistics Career Broadening Officer, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Robins AFB, Ga.
8. July 2014 – June 2015, Executive Officer to the Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Robins AFB, Ga.
9. June 2015 – June 2017, Maintenance Operations Officer, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
(September 2016 – April 2017, Commander, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.)
10. June 2017 – June 2018, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. June 2018 – June 2019, Commander, 51st Maintenance Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea.
12. June 2019 – June 2020, Commander, 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea.
13. June 2020 – July 2021, Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.
14. July 2021 – July 2022, Airpower Strategist, Futures and Concepts, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. July 2022 – May 2023, Student, Grand Strategy Program, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
16. July 2023 – March 2024, Deputy Maintenance Group Commander, Holloman AFB, N.M.
17. March 2024 - July 2024, Commander, 49th Maintenance Group, Holloman AFB, N.M.
18. July 2024 - January 2026, Wing A4 Director, Holloman AFB, N.M.
19. January 2026 - June 2026, Wing Chief of Staff, 49th Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.
20. June 2026 - Present, Commander, 51st Maintenance Group, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with Six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star
Korean Defense Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2006
First Lieutenant May 31, 2008
Captain May 31, 2010
Major May 01, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel September 01, 2020
Colonel January 01, 2026
(Current as of June 2026)