COLONEL ROBERT HARGENS

Colonel Hargens is Vice Commander of the 155th Air Refueling Wing at the Lincoln Municipal Airport, Lincoln, Nebraska.  The wing provides global reach airpower and deploys expeditionary forces in support of worldwide combat contingency and humanitarian requirements.  The wing operates eight KC-135R aircraft performing air refueling, airlift and aero-medical evacuation missions supporting U.S. and coalition contingency operations and the U.S. Strategic Command strategic deterrence mission. 

Colonel Hargens joined the United States Marine Corps in 1987 and was commissioned in 1990 through the Platoon Leaders Course program.  After receiving designation as a Naval Aviator, he was assigned to the Fleet Marine Force as an AH-1W pilot.  Colonel Hargens transitioned to the Nebraska Air National Guard in 1999, and was a distinguished graduate of the KC-135R Qualification Course. He has been privileged to command a civil engineer squadron, an air refueling squadron,  and previously served as Commander of the 155th Maintenance Group.  He has deployed in support of operations JOINT FORGE, NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, as well as a number of other contingency, humanitarian, and domestic operations.

EDUCATION

1990 Bachelor of Science, Construction Management, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1996 Warfighting Skills Program, by correspondence
2003 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2009 Master of Science, Engineering, Business Minor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2011 Air War College, by correspondence
2213 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, by correspondence
2013 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.

 ASSIGNMENTS

1. April 1991 - October 1991, The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
2. October 1991 - May 1993, Naval Aviator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
3. May 1993 - February 1994, AH-1W Qualification Training, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
4. February 1994 - April 1997, Instructor Pilot, Helicopter Marine Light Attack Squadron 367, Camp Pendleton, Calif. and Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa
5. April 1997 - April 1999, Evaluator Pilot, Marine Aircraft Group 42, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, La.
6. April 1999 - February 2000, Fixed Wing Qualification, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
7. February 2000 - July 2000, KC-135 Qualification Training, Altus Air Force Base, Okla.
8. July 2000 - September 2002, Current Operations Officer, 173rd Air Refueling Squadron, Lincoln, Neb.
9. September 2002 - July 2003, Conventional Plans Officer, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln, Neb.
10. July 2003 - July 2004, Chief of Tactics, 173rd Air Refueling Squadron, Lincoln, Neb.
11. July 2004 - February 2008, Chief of Safety, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln, Neb.
12. February 2008 - February 2009, Flight Commander, 173rd Air Refueling Squadron, Lincoln, Neb.
13. February 2009 - October 2011, Commander, 155th Civil Engineer Squadron, Lincoln, Neb.
14. October 2011 - October 2012, Commander, 173rd Air Refueling Squadron, Lincoln, Neb.
15. October 2012 - April 2014, Director of Staff - Air, Joint Force Headquarters, Lincoln, Neb.
16. April 2014 - October 2014, Vice Chief of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Lincoln, Neb.
17. October 2014 - May 2016, Commander, 155th Maintenance Group, Lincoln, Neb.
18.  May 2016 - Present, Vice Commander, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln, Neb.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 4000
Aircraft Flown: AH-1, KC-135, T-1, T-34, T-37, TH-57, UH-1

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon with two bronze stars
Combat Readiness Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Short Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold boarder, two bronze oak leaf cluster
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star
Armed Services Reserve Medal with bronze hourglass and ‘M’ device
Small Arms expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze star
Air Force Training RibbonNATO Medal

STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Nebraska National Guard Homeland Defense Service Ribbon
Nebraska National Guard Emergency Service Medal
Nebraska National Guard Service Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant Dec 21, 1990
First Lieutenant June 1, 1993
Captain June 1, 1995  
Major June 1, 2002 
Lieutenant Colonel Dec, 1, 2008
Colonel June 13, 2013

 (Current as of June 2016)