Col. Katherine AE Lilly is the Commander, 6th Maintenance Group, 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. She is responsible for the management of aircraft and munitions maintenance for the wing and its tenant units. Col. Lilly oversees 700 personnel in the generation, sustainment, and repair of 24 KC-135R/T Stratotanker aircraft supporting worldwide aerial refueling missions for the United States and allied forces, as well as providing direct support to combatant commanders.
Col. Lilly was commissioned in June 1997 through ROTC as a graduate of Oregon State University, Corvallis. During her career as an aircraft maintenance officer, she was assigned to four separate major commands, supporting a variety of aircraft across both the fixed- and rotary-wing spectrum. Her staff tours include serving as the Director of Staff to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs and as an executive officer at the headquarters, major command, and group levels. Prior to her current position, Col. Lilly was the Director of Staff to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, Headquarters Department of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
Throughout her operational career, Col. Lilly has commanded three separate squadrons, including the 802nd Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron in Shindand, Afghanistan, where she served as an Air Advisor. Additionally, she served as the Deputy Group Commander for the 521st Air Mobility Operations Group in Rota, Spain.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Oregon State University, Corvallis
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Master of Arts in Leadership, American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va.
2010 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2019 International Higher Command Seminar, Berlin, Germany
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1997–April 1999, Maintenance and Munitions Flight Commander, 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho
2. April 1999–May 2000, F-16 Sortie Support and Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 389th Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
3. June 2000–September 2002, F-22 Operational Test and Evaluation Officer, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
4. September 2002–April 2003, Executive Officer, 412th Maintenance Group, Edwards AFB, Calif.
5. April 2003–July 2004, Fabrication Flight Commander, 436th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
6. July 2004–October 2005, C-5 Aircraft Maintenance Unit Flight Commander, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
7. October 2005–January 2006, C-17 Maintenance Operations Officer, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
8. January 2006–July 2007, Chief, Maintenance Management and Requirements Section, Directorate of Logistics, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
9. July 2007–July 2008, Executive Officer to the Director of Logistics, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
10. July 2008–August 2009, Commander, 15th Maintenance Squadron, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
11. August 2009–June 2010, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. June 2010–November 2012, Commander, 374th Maintenance Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan
13. November 2012–November 2013, Commander, 802nd Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, Shindand AB, Afghanistan
14. November 2013–June 2014, Chief, Weapons Systems Support Branch, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Planning and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
15. June 2014–June 2015, Executive Officer to the Director of Strategic Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
16. June 2015–June 2016, Deputy Logistics Panel Chair, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
17. July 2016–July 2018, Deputy Group Commander, 521st Air Mobility Operations Group, Naval Station Rota, Spain
18. August 2018–May 2020, Chief, Europe and NATO Division, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
19. June 2020–September 2022, Senior Military Advisor to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, Headquarters Department of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
20. September 2022–July 2023, Director of Staff to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, Headquarters Department of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
21. July 2023–Present, Commander, 6th Maintenance Group, MacDill AFB, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 14, 1997
First Lieutenant June 1, 1999
Captain June 1, 2001
Major April 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2012
Colonel Nov. 1, 2018
(Current as of July 2026)