Senior Master Sergeant Kristoffer “Kris” Golden is the Senior Enlisted Leader for the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa’s (USAFE-AFAFRICA) Warfare Center, Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany. He provides policy advice, mentorship, and recommendations on matters affecting 298 military and civilian personnel assigned to the Warfare Center. The UAWC is the premier Joint & Coalition integrated, multi-domain warfighter training provider and policy maker for readiness in USAFE and AFAFRICA. The UAWC prepares Joint, NATO and Partner Nations’ warfighters to conduct innovative full-spectrum operations against a near-peer threat through strategic, operational and tactical exercises, advanced training, professional education, and policy.
Sergeant Golden was born in Lemoore, California, and enlisted in the Air Force in 2001. After basic and technical training school, Sergeant Golden was assigned to bases in Texas, Oklahoma, England, Nebraska and deployed to Diego Garcia, Qatar, and Afghanistan. Throughout his career, he has served in a broad spectrum of positions as a B-1 Maintainer, Base Honor Guard, Communications Project Management, Commanders Executive Assistant, Communications Superintendent for Weather Program
Fielding and Superintendent of Cyber Operations. Sergeant Golden and his Wife Master Sergeant Jennifer Golden have two daughters, Hailey and Kielyn. Hailey is also a member of the United States Air Force and is stationed at Whiteman AFB, Mo.
EDUCATION
2006 Airman Leadership School, Dyess AFB, TX
2014 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
2014 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course
2014 Associate Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology, CCAF
2014 Associate Degree in Electronic Systems Technology, CCAF
2015 USAF Senior NCO Academy (Non-resident)
2018 Bachelors of Science in Information Technology Management
2019 USAF SNCO Academy (Resident)
2019 Professional Managers Certification, CCAF
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 2001 - September 2002, B-1B Ground Crew Member, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
2. September 2002 - October 2003, B-1B Ground Crew Member, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
3. October 2003 - December 2004, B-1B Consolidated Tool Kit Monitor, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
4. December 2004 - May 2005, (Deployed) B-1B Consolidated Tool Kit Monitor, 40th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
5. May 2005 - May 2006, Shift Supervisor Sortie Support, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
6. May 2006 - July 2006, (Deployed) NCOIC, Sortie Support, 40th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
7. July 2006 - September 2006, (Deployed) NCOIC, Sortie Support, 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
8. September 2006 - May 2007, B-1B Assistant Dedicated Crew Chief, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
9. May 2007 - December 2008, Communications Plans and Implementation Journeyman, 97th Communications Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma
10. December 2008 - May 2009, (Deployed) NCOIC, Plans and Implementation, 455 Expeditionary Communications Squadron, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan
11. May 2009 - May 2011, NCOIC, Plans and Implementation, 97th Communications Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma
12. May 2011 - July 2012, NCOIC, Network Control Center, 97th Communications Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma
13. July 2012 - February 2014, NCOIC, Client Systems, 488th Intelligence Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom
14. February 2014 - March 2015, Commanders Executive Assistant, 488th Intelligence Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom
15. March 2015 - July 2016, Section Chief, Commanders Support, 488th Intelligence Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom
16. July 2016 - Aug 2017, Communications Manager, Weather Programs, AFLCMC, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
17. September 2017 – November 2018, Superintendent, Weather Communications, AFLCMC, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
18. November 2018 – July 2021, Section Chief, Network Infrastructure, 55th Communications Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
19. July 2021 – July 2022, Flight Chief, Operations, 1st Combat Communications Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
20. July 2022 – Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, USAFE-AFAFRICA Warfare Center, Einsiedlerhof AS, Germany
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Good Conduct Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
NATO Non-Article 5 ISAF Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2009 - 3C NCO of the Year, Altus Air Force Base, OK
2010 - Information Dominance NCO of the Year, Altus Air Force Base, OK
2014 - Lance P. Sijan NCO of the Year, RAF Mildenhall, UK
2014 - NCO of the Year, RAF Mildenhall, UK
2016 - Lance P. Sijan SNCO of the Year, RAF Mildenhall, UK
2016 - Tuskegee Airman Military Award SNCO of the Year, RAF Mildenhall, UK
2017 - Information Dominance SNCO of the Year, HB, Hanscom AFB, MA
2017 - SNCO of the Year, HBA, Hanscom AFB, MA
2018 - Information Dominance SNCO of the Year, HBA, Hanscom AFB, MA
2018 - SNCO of the Year, HBA, Hansom AFB, MA
2019 - General Jumper Enlisted of the Year, 55 CG, Offutt AFB, NE
2019 - SNCO of the Year, 55 CS, Offutt AFB, NE
2020 - SNCO of the Qtr, 55 CG, Offutt AFB, NE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class 15 May 2001
Senior Airman 15 September 2003
Staff Sergeant 1 February 2006
Technical Sergeant 1 December 2011
Master Sergeant 1 February 2016
Senior Master Sergeant 1 August 2020
(Current as of Jul 2022)