Colonel Sean S. McKenna is Director of Public Affairs, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio Randolph, Texas. As director, he is responsible for public affairs support to the AETC commander and the headquarters staff, as well as for providing public affairs mentorship to more than 62,400 personnel at 12 major installations. As such, he develops programs to promote public understanding of the command's missions, programs and activities, as well as those of the United States Air Force.
Colonel McKenna received his commission in May 1992 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, after spending his first two years of college at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is a senior public affairs officer who has commanded a squadron and held positions at the squadron, wing, center and major command levels. Additionally he has deployed as wing public affairs chief to units in Southwest Asia in support of operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom, as well to Cuba in support of Operation Restore Democracy. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel McKenna was the Director of Public Affairs, Air Force Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism (Cum Laude), Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos
1993 Public Affairs Officers Course (Honor Graduate), Defense Information School, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind.
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2000 Master of Arts degree in Journalism (Distinguished Graduate), University of Colorado, Boulder
2003 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2006 Master of Arts degree in Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1993 - January 1996, Public Affairs Staff Officer, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (March 1995 - June 1995, Chief, Public Affairs, 4404th Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia)
2. January 1996 - May 1998, Chief, Public Affairs, 425th Air Base Squadron, lzmir Air Station, Turkey
3. August 1998 - May 2000, student, Air Force Institute of Technology, University of Colorado, Boulder
4. May 2000 - May 2002, Chief, Internal Information Division, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
5. May 2002 - May 2003, Chief, Plans and Environmental Issues, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo. (April 2002 - July 2002, Chief, Public Affairs, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
6. May 2003 - July 2005, Chief, Public Affairs and Band Officer Assignments, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
7. August 2005 - June 2006, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 2006 - June 2008, Chief, Public Affairs, Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service, Randolph AFB, Texas
9. July 2008 - July 2010, Commander, 344th Recruiting Squadron, Arlington, Texas
10. July 2010 - June 2012, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas
11. June 2012 - June 2013, Director, Public Affairs, Air Force Central Command, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
12. June 2013 - present, Director, Public Affairs, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio Randolph, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and four oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Air Education and Training Command's Best Crisis Communication Award, 2013
Air Combat Command's Best Issues Management Award, 2012
Air Education and Training Command's Most Outstanding Communication Program, 2008
Air Force Space Command's Public Affairs Company Grade Officer of the Year, 2002
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Director's Excellence Award, 2001
Squadron Officers School's Chief of Staff Flight, 1998
U.S. Air Forces in Europe Sportswriter of the Year, 1997
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 15, 1992
First Lieutenant Sept. 16, 1994
Captain Sept. 16, 1996
Major March 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2008
Colonel June 1, 2014
(Current as of June 2014)