Col. Albert L. Knapp IV is the Commander, 94th Maintenance Group, 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. Col Knapp is responsible for the leadership and training of maintenance Airmen. Additionally, Col. Knapp oversees requirements and provides resources, equipment and infrastructure to produce safe and reliable C-130H3 aircraft to meet Air Force requirements worldwide.
Col. Knapp enlisted into the U.S. Air Force in December 1989 and completed technical school at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. in November 1990 to work as a Guidance and Control Systems specialist on MH-53J, MH-53J/M, KC-135R and C-130 aircraft. Col. Knapp later graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University at Eglin AFB, Fla. and earned his commission as a distinguished graduate at the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn., in November 2002. Col. Knapp has served as a Logistics Readiness Officer, Installation Deployment Officer and deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan as the Logistics Operations Officer before returning to the maintenance field as a Maintenance Operations Officer in June 2010. Col. Knapp has commanded both an Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and a Maintenance Squadron and served as the Branch Chief for Air Force Reserve Command’s Aircraft Maintenance Branch in the Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection directorate. His military career spans more than 32 years of active duty and Reserve service.
Prior to this assignment, Col. Knapp was the Commander, 914th Maintenance Group, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y., where he was responsible for training and equipping two squadrons to maintain eight KC-135s. He also holds Federal Aviation Administration Airframe and Powerplant license.
EDUCATION
1994 Airman Leadership School in residence RAF Upwood, U.K.
1996 Associate of Avionics Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1998 Bachelor of Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle University, Eglin AFB, Fla.
2002 Academy of Military Science – Distinguished Graduate
2003 Logistics Readiness Officer Course – Distinguished Graduate
2006 Aircraft Maintenance Officers Course
2008 Squadron Officer School in residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Masters of Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
2013 Air Command and Staff College – Correspondence
2014 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education – National Defense University, Norfolk, Va. – seminar
2019 Air War College – Correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1990 – December 1992, Guidance Control, MH53J, 542nd AGS, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2. December 1992 – January 1995, Guidance and Control, MH53J/M, 352nd SOG RAF Alconbury, U.K.
3. January 1995 – October 1996, Guidance and Control, KC-135R 55 AGS, Altus AFB, Okla.
4. October 1996 – July 2000, Guidance and Control, 16th HGS, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
5. February 2001 – November 2002, Guidance and Control, 914th MXS, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
6. November 2002 – June 2006, Logistics Readiness Officer, 914th LRS, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
7. June 2006 – October 2008, Operations Officer, 914th MXS, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
8. October 2008 – Installation Deployment Officer, Director of Logistics Plans, Operations Officer, 914th LRS, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
9. October 2009 – May 2010 – Director of Logistics Operation, 455th ELRS, Bagram AB, Afghanistan
10. June 2010 – February 2013, Maintenance Operations Officer, 752nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
11. February 2013 – May 2014 Commander, 927th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
12. May 2014 – July 2016 Branch Chief, HQ AFRC/A4M and subsequently, Executive Officer to AFRC/A4, Robins AFB, Ga.
13. July 2016 – July 2018 - Commander, 58th Maintenance Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
14. July 2018 – August 2019 – Branch Chief, Aircraft Maintenance Branch, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
15. August 2019 – June 2020 – Deputy Maintenance Group Commander, 914th MXG, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
16. June 2020 – May 2022 – Maintenance Group Commander, 914th MXG, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
17. May 2022 – Present – Maintenance Group Commander, 94th MXG, Dobbins ARB, Ga.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award With Valor – three devices
Air Force Good Conduct Medal – two devices
National Defense Service Medal – one device
Southwest Asia Service Medal – one device
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
AF Overseas Ribbon Short AF Overseas Ribbon Long
AF Longevity Service Ribbon – three devices
USAF NCO PME Graduate ribbon
AF Training ribbon – 1 device
NATO Medal with Bronze Star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 22, 2002
First Lieutenant November 22, 2004
Captain January 17, 2007
Major March 14, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel August 31, 2018
Colonel May 1, 2023
(Current as of May 2023)