Colonel Victor Knill is the Commander of the 173d Mission Support Group, Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Klamath Falls, Oregon. He is responsible for overseeing functions to include logistics, security forces, personnel, civil engineering, and cyber operations.
Colonel Knill enlisted in the Air Force in August 1996 and completed technical training as an Intelligence Applications Apprentice at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, March 1997. While on Active Duty, he served at Langley AFB and overseas locations in Southwest Asia in support of Operations NORTHERN and SOUTHERN WATCH. In 2000, he transitioned to the Massachusetts Air National Guard. From 2000 to 2005, he served as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of 102d Fighter Wing Intelligence Operations. In November 2005, he was commissioned from the Academy of Military Science and completed undergraduate pilot training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi in March 2007 and the F-15 Basic Course, Kingsley Field, Oregon in June 2008. He was assigned to the 114th Fighter Squadron as the Assistant Chief of Weapons and Squadron Standards and Evaluations Liaison Officer until 2010. He was reassigned to the 142 FW in Portland, Oregon to enhance deployment efforts in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE and complement Theater Security Packages to the CENTCOM area of responsibility. Colonel Knill returned to the 114 FS as an F-15C Instructor Pilot in 2012 and has held numerous jobs including Assistant Chief of Scheduling, Flight Commander, Chief of Academics, Chief of Training, Chief of HARM, Assistant Director of Operations, and 173d Operations Support Squadron Director of Operations. Prior to his current position, the Colonel was the Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander, 173 MSG, Kingsley Field ANGB, Klamath Falls, Oregon.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Arts, History, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Dartmouth, Mass.
2001 Airmen Leadership School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2005 Graduate, Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson ANG Base, Tenn.
2013 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Masters of Military Operational Arts and Sciences, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2023 Joint Task Force Commanders Training Course (JCTC), United States Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2025 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2025 Dual Status Commander Course, United States Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
- August 1996 – October 1996, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas.
- October 1996 – March 1997, Student, Intelligence Applications Technical School, Goodfellow AFB, Texas.
- March 1997 – August 2000, Intelligence Specialist, 94th Fighter Squadron, 1 FW, Langley AFB, Va.
- August 2000 – October 2005, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Intelligence Operations, 102 FW, Otis ANGB, Falmouth, Mass.
- October 2005 – November 2005, Officer Candidate, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
- February 2006 – March 2007, Student Pilot, Columbus AFB, Miss.
- March 2007 – May 2007, Student Pilot, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 87thFighter Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas.
- June 2007 – June 2008, F-15 Student Pilot, 114FS, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
- June 2008 – June 2009, Assistant Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 114 FS, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
- June 2009 – June 2010, Chief of Standardizations and Evaluations Liaison Officer, 114 FS, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
- June 2010 – June 2011, Chief of Training, 123FS, Portland ANGB, Portland, Ore.
- June 2011 – August 2012, Chief of Aircrew Flight Equipment, 123 FS, Portland ANGB, Portland, Ore.
- August 2012 – August 2014, F-15 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 114 FS, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
- August 2014 – September 2015, Flight Commander, 114 FS, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
- September 2015 – June 2016, Chief of Academics, 114 FS, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
- June 2016 – November 2016, Weapons and Academics Liaison Officer, 114 FS, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
- November 2016 – June 2018, Flight Commander, 114 FS, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
- June 2018 – August 2020, Assistant Director of Operations, 114 FS, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
- August 2020 – September 2021, Director of Operations, 173d Operations Support Squadron, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
- September 2021 – August 2024, Commander, 173d Logistics Readiness Squadron, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
- August 2024 – Present, Commander, 173d Mission Support Group, Kingsley Field ANGB, Ore.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2000
Aircraft flown: F-15C/D, T-37, T-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air and Space Longevity Service Award
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hourglass and two ‘M’ devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)
Air and Space Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1997, 1998, 1999 94th Fighter Squadron Airman of the Quarter
1998, 1999 1st Fighter Wing Outstanding Intelligence Airman of the Year
1998 94th Fighter Squadron Airman of the Year
2016 173d Operations Group Warrior of the Quarter
2018 173d Operations Group Warrior of the Quarter
2018 173d Operations Group Field Grade Officer of the Year
2019 AETC Flight Commander of the Year
2022 USNORTHCOM Exercise CASCADIA RISING Superior Performer
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic Aug. 28, 1996
Airman Feb. 28, 1997
Airman First Class Dec. 28, 1997
Senior Airman Aug. 28, 1999
Staff Sergeant Feb. 5, 2002
Technical Sergeant April 22, 2004
Second Lieutenant Nov. 18, 2005
First Lieutenant Nov. 18, 2007
Captain Nov. 18, 2009
Major Feb. 3, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel May 5, 2018
Colonel Aug. 16, 2024
(Current as of December 2025)