BIOGRAPHY
Lieutenant Colonel Darren Makela
Lt Col Darren R. Makela is the Professor of Aerospace Studies, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
Colonel Makela was commissioned in the Air Force though ROTC in 1994. He has operated the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile weapon system and the Defense Support Program early warning satellite system.
He has held staff assignments focusing on operations, new technologies, as well as nuclear command and control. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Chief, Command Post, 341st Missile Wing.
EDUCATION:
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1994 Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Wright State University
1995 Distinguished graduate, Undergraduate Missile Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA
1998 Masters of Science degree in Space Studies, University of North Dakota
1999 Space Applications Advanced Course, Colorado Springs, CO
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2004 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 Joint Professional Military Education Phase II, Norfolk NAS, VA
2008 Space 300 and ICBM Advanced Course, Colorado Springs, CO
2011 Air War College (Correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Mar 1995 -- May 1999, Flight Commander, 10th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, MT
- May 1999 -- Nov 1999, Crew Commander, 2nd Command & Control Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO
- Nov 1999 -- Apr 2000, US Space Command Liaison Officer to Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia, Eskan Village, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Apr 2000 -- Apr 2002, Chief of Evaluation, Sensor Management, 21 Space Wing, Peterson AFB, CO
- Apr 2002 -- Jun 2005, Chief of Space Operations, Air Warfare Battlelab, Mountain Home, ID
- Jun 2005 -- Jan 2007, Chief, Assessments Branch, US Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE
- Jan 2007 -- May 2008, Executive Officer, Director of Global Operations (J3), US Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE
- May 2008 -- Jan 2010, Assistant Operations Officer, Current Operations Flight, 341 OSS, Malmstrom AFB, MT
- Jan 2010 -- May 2010, Chief of Officer and Civilian Career Dev Branch, AF Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, LA
- May 2010 -- May 2011, Chief, Command Post, 341 Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, MT
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
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Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
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Second Lieutenant - March 29, 1994
First Lieutenant - July 4, 1996
Captain - July 4, 1998
Major - Nov 1, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel - Dec 1, 2009
(Current as of May 2011)
