Col Joe Kinego (USAF, Retired) served 27 years in the United States Air Force in a variety of leadership positions mostly involved in operations. He was a Command Pilot with over 4500 flying hours in the T-38, B-57, RF-4C, SR-71, B-1B, KC-135 and EC-135 aircraft. He flew 148 combat missions and over 400 combat hours in the RF-4C in Southeast Asia. He also flew over 900 hours in the SR-71 as an operational pilot, instructor pilot, and the Chief of the Standardization and Evaluation Division. Additionally, he served as the Commander of the 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale AFB (the Air Force's only operational SR-71 squadron), as the Director for Operations and Vice Wing Commander of the 28th Bombardment Wing (H) at Ellsworth AFB, and the Wing Commander of the 319th Bombardment Wing (H) at Grand Forks AFB. He also served at Headquarters Strategic Air Command in the Strategic Reconnaissance Center and as the Director of Combat Operations for Second Air Force while it was a reconnaissance command. He completed his career as the Commander of the Global Operations Center at Beale AFB, California.
Col Kinego received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Allegheny College, a Masters Degree in Sociology from Pepperdine University, and a Masters Degree in Business Management from National Louis University. In addition, he is graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and National War College in residence.