Col Kyle Rykaczewski serves as the Deputy Commander, 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The wing is equipped with F-15E and F-15SG aircraft and 4,200 military and civilian personnel that support 18 squadrons to include an F-15SG squadron of the Republic of Singapore Air Force. The wing operates the Mountain Home Range Complex with over 9,000 square miles of diverse airspace and 122,000 acres of land that supports two air-to-ground ranges and 30 electronic combat sites. The fighter wing shares a unique relationship with U.S. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, and provides aircrew that operate U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers of the 390th Electronic Combat Squadron.
Col Rykaczewski received his commission in May 2006 upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has spent a majority of his career as an operational A-10 pilot and as an instructor at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. He also served as the Director of Fires for Joint Special Operations Command. Prior to his current position, he was the Chief of Staff for the Joint Staff J-7, Joint Force Development Directorate, at the Pentagon.
Col Rykaczewski is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours in the T-37B, T-38C, A-10C, and F-15E. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and has flown combat missions in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2009 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2014 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2019 Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Bethesda, Md.
2024 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
August 2006 – January 2007, Assistant Scheduler, 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
February 2007 – June 2009, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
July 2009 – January 2010, Student, A-10 initial qualification course, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
February 2010 – November 2012, Electronic Combat Pilot and Chief of Training, 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
December 2012 – January 2014, Flight Commander, 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
February 2014 – June 2014, Student, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
July 2014 – June 2016, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 74th Fighter Squadron, and Wing Weapons Officer, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Ga. (November 2015 – April 2016, Chief of Wing Weapons and Tactics, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Incirlik AB, Turkey)
July 2016 – June 2017, A-10 Weapons School Instructor, 66th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev. (March 2017 – June 2017, Air Forces Central Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 609th Air Operations Center, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
July 2017 – June 2018, Director of Operations, 6th Combat Training Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
July 2018 – July 2019, Student, National Intelligence University, Bethesda, Md.
August 2019 – June 2021, Director of Fires, 1st Joint Special Operations Air Component, Fort Bragg, N.C.
July 2021 – July 2023, Commander, 355th Operations Support Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
July 2023 – June 2024, Senior Developmental Education Student, National War College, Washington, D.C.
June 2024 – April 2025, Joint Exercise Planner, Joint Staff J-7, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
May 2025 – June 2026, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff J-7, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
July 2026 – Present, Deputy Commander, 366 Fighter Wing, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS August 2019 – June 2021, Director of Fires, 1st Joint Special Operations Air Component, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a lieutenant colonel June 2024 – June 2026, Joint Exercise Planner and Chief of Staff, Joint Staff J-7, Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION [FLIGHT RATED ONLY] Rating: Command Pilot Flight hours: 2,500 Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-38C, A-10C, F-15E
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Superior Service Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters