Col. Peter E. Kasarskis is the Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, home of the "Wolf Pack". He serves as the U.S. Forces Korea Area VI commander for more than 7,000 forward-stationed and combat-ready Air Force and Army personnel. As the 8th FW Commander, he is responsible for the plans, support and execution of military operations in support of counter-air, aerial interdiction and close-air support on the Korean Peninsula. The 8th FW consists of more than 3,200 active-duty personnel and civilians, four groups and 14 squadrons, including two F-16 fighter squadrons. Col. Kasarskis reports to the 7th Air Force commander for the wing’s conduct of conventional air-to-ground and air-to-air missions in support of armistice and wartime taskings.
Cols. Kasarski entered the Air Force in 2000 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Behavior Science from the United Stated Air Force Academy. He graduated pilot training from Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma in 2001 and completed F-16 training at Luke AFB, Arizona in 2002. Col Kasarskis’ assignments include being an F-16 instructor pilot & flight examiner and various positions at squadron, group and wing echelons. Previously, he served as the Deputy Commander at the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. He deployed as Chief of Tactics and Mission Systems Operator in the RC-26B and as Director of Operations, 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Additionally, Col Kasarskis served as Commander, 367th Fighter Squadron at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida and Deputy Commander, 54th Fighter Group at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Chief of the Advanced Systems Division, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science in Behavior Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
2008 Master of Aerospace Science Technology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona
2009 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2019 Air War College, by correspondence
2021 Combat Air Force Fellow, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000 – September 2001, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 25th FTS, Vance AFB, Oklahoma
2. October 2001 – December 2002, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 435th FS Randolph AFB, TX
3. January 2002 – September 2002, Student, F-16 Formal Training Unit, 308th FS, Luke AFB, Arizona
4. October 2002 – June 2005, F-16 Flight Lead and Chief of Scheduling, 524th FS, Cannon AFB, New Mexico
5. July 2005 – December 2006 – F-16 Instructor Pilot/Flight CC, 35th FS, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
6. January 2007 – December 2010, F-16 Instructor Pilot/Flight Examiner, 56th OG, Luke AFB, Arizona
(August 2009-April 2010, RC-26 Mission Systems Operator/Chief of Tactics, Southwest Asia)
7. January 2011 – August 2012, F-16 Flight Examiner/Assistant Director of Ops, 18th AGRS Eielson AFB, Alaska
8. September 2012 – March 2014, Director of Staff, 354th FW, Eielson AFB, Alaska
9. April 2014 – May 2016, Inspector General, 388th FW, Hill AFB, Utah
(October 2015 – April 2016, Director of Operations, 455th EOSS, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
10. June 2016--June 2018, Commander, 367th FS, Homestead ARB, Florida
11. July 2018- June 2020, Deputy Commander, 54th FG, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
12. July 2020- June 2021, Combat Air Force Fellow, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley- Eustis, Virginia
13. July 2021- May 2022, Chief, Advanced Sys Division, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia
14. June 2022- June 2024, Deputy Commander, 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska
15. June 2024- Present, Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,300
Aircraft flown: F-16, RC-26B, AT-38B, T-38, T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
(Current as of June 2024)