Colonel Keith W. Carson is the Commander, 635th Materiel Maintenance Group, Holloman AFB, NM. He leads the Air Force’s premier Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) unit. He is responsible for overseeing a world-class team of 415 military and civilian personnel spanning 32 Air Force specialties, 4,700 equipment capabilities, and 93 general and special purpose vehicles, to ensure the readiness and effectiveness of more than $1.6 billion in War Reserve Materiel (WRM) assets and infrastructure, which are critical for global power projection.
Colonel Carson received his commission in 2005 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at University of Colorado at Boulder. After entering active duty in July 2005, he served in section, flight, and squadron Operations Officer roles. He has commanded a numbered flight and two squadrons. Prior to his current position, Colonel Carson was Chief, Materiel Management and Fuels Branch, Headquarters Air Force.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science degree in History, University of Colorado at Boulder, CO
2006 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 Air Force Special Operations Command Mission Commander’s Course, Hurlburt Field, FL
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2013 Master’s degree in Operational Leadership and Management, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 Advanced Logistics Readiness Officer Course, McGuire AFB, NJ
2016 Air Command and Staff College (By Correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2022 Logistics Support to Sensitive Activities, Ft. Bragg, NC
2023 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2024 Advanced Program in Logistics and Technology, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
2025 Global Supply Chain Executive Development Program, Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2005 - January 2010, Flight Commander, 1st Logistics Readiness Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, VA
2. January 2010 - June 2013, Flight Commander, Installation Deployment Officer, and later Operations Officer, 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
3. June 2013 - April 2015, Section Head, Deployable Command & Control Centre, Poggio Renatico, Italy
4. April 2015 – June 2017, Commander, 47th Logistics Readiness Flight, Laughlin AFB, TX
5. June 2017 – July 2019, Commander, 71st Installation Support Squadron, Vance AFB, OK
6. July 2019 – July 2020, Commander, 442d Air Expeditionary Squadron, Camp Taji, Iraq
7. July 2020 – July 2022, Chief of Operations and Sensitive Activities (J4), Special Operations Command – Central, MacDill AFB, FL
8. July 2022 – June 2023, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
9. June 2023 – June 2026, Chief, Fuels & Materiel Management Branch, and Chief, Distribution & Vehicle Management Branch, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA
10. June 2026 – Present, Commander, 635th Materiel Maintenance Group, Holloman AFB, NM
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2020 – July 2022, Chief of Operations and Sensitive Activities (J4), Special Operations Command – Central, MacDill AFB, FL as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 Air Commando Association Commander’s Leadership Award
2013 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allied Command Operations Logistics Readiness Officer of the Year
2015 Advanced Logistics Readiness Officer Course Outstanding Research Paper Award
2016 Air Education and Training Command Company Grade Logistics Readiness Officer of the Year
2019 Air Education and Training Command Field Grade Logistics Readiness Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 18, 2005
First Lieutenant July 18, 2007
Captain July 18, 2009
Major February 1, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2020
Colonel July 1, 2026
(Current as of July 2026)