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Col. John L. Kitchell III Retires From U.S. Air Force Reserve

Last updated on Friday, March 3, 2017

(UNDATED) - Air Force Reserve Col. John L. Kitchell III has retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve after serving honorably for 31 years. Kitchell was last serving as Reserve chief of intelligence with Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

Prior to this assignment, he served as the chief of intelligence, 440th Operations Support Squadron, Pope Army Airfield, N.C. In that capacity he supported 40 primary C-130H2 aircrews, 16 planes, and 2 aeromedical squadrons with an additional 40 active duty and reserve aeromedical crews. Kitchell was commissioned a second lieutenant upon completing Air Force Officer Training School in 1985. He was assigned to a B-52 aircrew as a navigator after completing undergraduate navigator training in 1987. He continued serving on a bomber aircrew until his separation from active duty as a result of the post-Cold War defense drawdown in 1992.

The retiree joined the Air Force Reserve Command in 1995. He qualified in the KC-135 as a navigator and served in that capacity with the 72nd Air Refueling Squadron. He entered the intelligence career field in October, 2000 and became the Chief of Intelligence, 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Reserve Base in 2001. He became chief of intelligence at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., in October, 2007. His military intelligence experience includes duty as senior intelligence duty officer at the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center in 2007, numerous OIF/OEF deployments as the senior intelligence officer. He has additionally deployed to the Korean in 2011, 2012, and 2014.

Kitchell is the son of John L. Kitchell of Carmel, Ind., Dorothy M. Smith of Union Grove, Wis., and Carolyn M. Kitchell of Carmel, Ind., brother of Teresa Gallant of Clifton Park, N.Y., and father of Steven C. Kitchell of Bloomington, Ind., Bethany M. Murphy of Fort Mill, S.C., and John L. Kitchell of Beech Grove, Ind.

He is a 1979 graduate of Racine Christian Academy, Racine, Wis. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1984 from Black Hills State College, Spearfish, S.D.

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