Colonel Samuel R. Mink is the Chief of Logistics and Sustainment, U.S Air Force F-35 Integration Office. In this role, he advises senior Air Force leaders on the multi-billion-dollar F-35 program and engages with the Offices of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, the other services, Air Force Major Commands, Partner and customer nation representatives to advance operational capabilities and sustainment needs of the F-35A.
Col Mink enlisted in the Air Force in 1996 as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. In 2001, he was selected to enter Air Force ROTC through the Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program where in 2003 he was a Distinguished Graduate of Charleston Southern University’s ROTC program. He is a career aircraft maintenance officer and has held numerous positions at the squadron, group, numbered air force, major command, Air Staff, and Joint Staff levels. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
EDUCATION:
2003 Bachelor of Technology, Criminal Justice, Charleston Southern University, Charleston, SC
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 USAF Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, Nellis AFB, NV
2011 Masters in Business Administration, Trident University International
2015 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2021 Master of Science in National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2022 Advanced Program in Logistics and Technology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Aug 03 – Aug 05, Assistant OIC, 494th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and later Assistant OIC, 493d Aircraft Maintenance Unit, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
2. Aug 05 – Aug 06, Maintenance and Munitions Operations Officer, 7th Air Force, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
3. Aug 06 – Aug 10, Accessories Flight Commander, Executive Officer, Fabrication Flight Commander, OIC 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, and 1st AMXS Maintenance Operations Officer, 1st Maintenance Group, Langley AFB, Virginia
4. Aug 10 – Jul 12, Logistics Career Broadening Program, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Robins AFB, Georgia
5. Jul 12 – Jul 14, Special Action Officer to the AFMC Commander, Headquarters AFMC, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. Jul 14 – Jun 15, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
7. Jul 15 – Jun 16, Commander, 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Southwest Asia
8. Jul 16 – Jul 18, Commander, 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Florida
9. Jul 18 – Jul 20, Political-Military Affairs Strategist, Europe-NATO-Russia, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Staff J-5, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
10. Jul 20 – Jun 21, Student, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. Jun 21 – Jul 22, Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
12. Jul 22 – Present, Chief of Logistics and Sustainment, U.S Air Force F-35 Integration Office, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia SUMMARY OF
JOINT ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Jul 18 – Jul 20, Political-Military Affairs Strategist, Europe-NATO-Russia, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Staff J-5, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
NATO Medal with one device
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant May 2003
First Lieutenant May 2005
Captain May 2007
Major May 2013
Lieutenant Colonel Dec 2016
Colonel May 2022
(Current as of April 2023)