Colonel Robert C. Arnett is the Deputy Commander, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 18th Wing, the largest combat wing in the U.S. Air Force, provides the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, trained and equipped tactical air superiority forces, combat search and rescue forces, command and control platforms, aeromedical evacuation capability, and global mobility resources for contingency operations. The wing flies the KC-135R, HH-60, and E-3 aircraft and hosts rotational 4th and 5th generation fighters. Additionally, the wing provides the 5th Air Force Commander a responsive staging and operational air base with integrated, deployable, forward-based airpower.
Colonel Arnett received his commission in 2003 from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his wings in 2005 at Laughlin AFB Texas. Colonel Arnett is a graduate of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, the Naval War College, and completed a Foreign Policy Advisor Fellowship at the Department of State. He is an evaluator pilot in the KC-135, has flown the C-21, and served as a Contingency Response Element Commander, specializing in expeditionary air mobility operations. He has held positions at the squadron, group, wing, MAJCOM, and joint staff levels. He served in a variety of command and staff positions, including Commander of the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, Senior Executive Officer to the Air Mobility Commander, and Chief of the Future Operations Division, United States Air Forces Europe-Africa. Colonel Arnett has completed four deployments supporting Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Colonel Arnett is a Command Pilot with over 2,600 flying hours and more than 500 combat hours.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science in English, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Arts in International Relations, University of Oklahoma
2013 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence)
2015 Air Force Fellow, Department of State, Washington DC
2016 School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Air War College (Correspondence)
2022 Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, RI
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2004 – July 2005, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX
2. July 2005 – November 2006, Pilot, C-21A, Safety Officer, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
3. November 2006 – November 2010, Instructor Pilot, Operations Group Executive Officer, RAF Mildenhall, England
4. November 2010 – June 2014, AMC Phoenix Mobility Officer, Chief of Wing Standardization and Evaluations, Travis AFB, CA
5. June 2014 – June 2015, Foreign Policy Advisor Fellow, Department of State, Washington DC
6. June 2015 – June 2016, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL
7. June 2016 – June 2018, Strategic Planner, Joint Staff J-5, Washington DC
8. June 2018 – May 2021, Director of Operations and Commander, Kadena Air Base, Japan
9. June 2021 – June 2022, Executive Officer, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL
10. June 2022 – June 2023, Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, RI
11. July 2023 – June 2024, European Plans Branch Chief, United States Air Forces Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
12. June 2024 – June 2025, Future Operations Division Chief, United States Air Forces Europe-Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany
13. June 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 2,600
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-1, C-21, KC-31R/T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2003
First Lieutenant May 28, 2005
Captain May 28, 2007
Major June 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2018
Colonel April 1, 2024
(Current as of July 2025)