Lt. Col. Keith D. McCray is the Commander of the 914th Maintenance Group at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York. He is responsible for training airmen and provides resources, equipment, & infrastructure to produce safe and reliable KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft to meet air refueling requirements worldwide.
Lt. Col. McCray is a Senior Aircraft Maintenance Officer having served in various aircraft maintenance positions for 17 years. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in February 1992 as a Chapel Manager. While enlisted, he attended Charleston Southern University, South Carolina, where he earned a commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps after receiving a Bachelor of Technology in business administration in December 1999. He then attended the Personnel Officer Course and became a Personnel Officer in February 2000. Lt. Col. McCray served as a Personnel Officer in various positions for a total of four years. In November 2004, he graduated from the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course. Lt. Col. McCray has served in various positions in aircraft maintenance to include Fabrication Flight Commander, Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge, Maintenance Operations Officer, Maintenance Squadron Commander, Chief, and Aircraft Maintenance Division at 22nd Air Force. Prior to his current position, the Lieutenant Colonel was the Deputy Commander, 452nd Maintenance Group, March Air Reserve Base, California.
Lt. Col. McCray has deployed in support of Operation Sea Signal, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Technology, Business Administration, Charleston Southern University, Charleston, S.C.
2001 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Master of Science, Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1992 – February 1998, Chapel Manager, 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
2. February 2000 – April 2001, Squadron Section Commander, 366th Supply Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Ind.
3. May 2001 – March 2002, Squadron Section Commander, 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Ind.
4. March 2002 – April 2003, Chief, Relocations and Employment, 51st Mission Support Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea
5. April 2003 – November 2004, Squadron Section Commander, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
6. December 2004 – February 2006, Fabrication Flight Commander, 33rd Maintenance Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
7. January 2007 – April 2008, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 452nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
8. April 2008 – August 2009, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 752nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
9. August 2009 – August 2012, Maintenance Operations Officer, 459th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md.
10. August 2012 – July 2016, Squadron Commander, 459th Maintenance Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md.
11. March 2017 – January 2018, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 940th Maintenance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
12. January 2018 – July 2019, Chief, Aircraft Maintenance Division, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins ARB, Ga.
13. July 2019 – September 2022, Deputy Commander, 452nd Maintenance Group, March ARB, Calif.
14. September 2022 – Present, Commander, 914th Maintenance Group, Niagara Air Reserve Station, N.Y.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with bronze star
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
(CURRENT AS OF DECEMBER 2022)