Col Paul M Arkwell is Commander, 49th Mission Support Group, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. He commands a diverse team of over 1,800 personnel, providing base security, logistics, communication, contracting, engineering, and force support, to a population of 13,000 personnel. Col Arkwell supports F 16 Fighting Falcon and MQ-9 Reaper training operations, the 635th Materiel Maintenance Group, and the 704th Test Group. He oversees 58,900 acres of land, 2,071 facilities, and $8.5 billion in equipment and infrastructure. Col Arkwell also directs annual execution of $18.3 million in appropriated funds, $7.4 million in nonappropriated funds, and $19.1 million in civilian pay. Additionally, he provides base and local disaster response and contingency support.
Col Arkwell enlisted in the Air Force in May 1996 and was assigned to the Aircraft Hydraulics career field where he served for 6 years. He was commissioned through Officer Training School as a Logistics Plans officer in 2002 and became a Logistics Readiness Officer in 2002 after the career field merger. He has extensive overseas operational experience within both the Pacific and European theaters from Joint Staff to Squadron Command.
Prior to his current position, Col Arkwell was the Director, Office of Strategic Programs, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Distribution HQ, New Cumberland, PA. Col Arkwell served as principal advisor and program manager to the commander and staff on the command inspection program, continuous process improvement, best practice initiatives, organization culture & climate, change management, and AI development strategies. He Provided mission command for 54 distribution centers and customer support sites aligned to all combatant commands, military services, and various government agencies and established policies and providing technical advice in storing and distributing 2.5B items valued at $106B for 250k customers.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelors of Science Degree in Management, Park University, Parkville, MS
2002 Aero Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2004 Master of Science Degree in Management, University of Maryland, MD
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Advanced Logistics Readiness Officers Course, USAF Expeditionary Center, Ft Dix, NJ
2013 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence)
2019 Enterprise Logistics Course (AFIT LOG 420), Wright Patterson AFB, OH
2020 Air War College (Correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jul 1996 – Jul 2002, Aircraft Hydraulic Systems Mechanic, Grand Forks AFB, ND
2. Jul 2002 – Jan 2003, War Reserve Materiel Officer, 15 LRS, Hickam AFB, HI
3. Jan 2003 – Jan 2004, Chief, War Readiness Section, 15 LRS, Hickam AFB, HI
4. Jan 2004 – Nov 2004, Chief, Contingency Planning & Training, 15 LRS, Hickam AFB, HI
5. Nov 2004 – Jan 2005, Installation Deployment Officer, 15 LRS, Hickam AFB, HI
6. Jan 2005 – Aug 2005, Commander, Traffic Management Flight, 15 LRS, Hickam AFB, HI
7. Aug 2005 – Jun 2006, Commander, Fuels Management Flight, 15 LRS, Hickam AFB, HI
8. Jun 2006 – Nov 2007, Senior Advisor, Iraqi Garrison Support Unit, MNSTC-I, Tall Afar, Iraq
9. Dec 2007 – Aug 2008, OIC, Passenger & Fleet Services, 730 AMS, Yokota AB, Japan
10. Aug 2008 – Sep 2009, Aerial Port Operations Officer, 730 AMS, Yokota AB, Japan
11. Sep 2009 – Mar 2010, Executive Officer, 515 Air Mobility Operations Group, Yokota AB, Japan
12. Mar 2010 – Jun 2012, Chief, Defense Sensitive Support, 5 AF, Yokota AB Japan
13. Jun 2012 – Jul 2015, Commander, 730 AMS/Det 2, Paya Lebar AFD, Singapore
14. Jul 2015 – Jul 2017, Joint Exercise Planner, U.S. Forces Korea J45, Yongsan Army Garrison, Korea
15. Jul 2017 – May 2020, Commander, 86th Materiel Maintenance Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
16. May 2020 – June 2023, Deputy Commander, 86th Logistics Readiness Group, Ramstein AB, Germany
17. Jun 2023 – May 2026, Director, Office of Strategic Programs, DLA Distribution HQ, New Cumberland, PA
18. Jun 2026 – Present, Commander, 49th Mission Support Group, Holloman AFB, N.M.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jul 2015 – Jul 2017, Joint Exercise Planner, U.S. Forces Korea J45, Yongsan, Korea (As Maj/Lt Col)
2. Jun 2023 – May 2026, Director, Office of Strategic Programs, DLA Distribution HQ, New Cumberland, PA (As Col)
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 2 oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal, 3 oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal, 2 oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal, 3 oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School
2000 Academic Achievement Award, Airman Leadership School
2003 Top Graduate Logistics Readiness Officer Technical School
2008 Air Mobility Command Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award Winner
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 28
2002 First Lieutenant June 28
2004 Captain June 28
2006 Major September 1
2012 Lieutenant Colonel
June 1, 2017 Colonel
December 1, 2023
(Current as of Feb 26)