Col. Katie K. Gaetke is the Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea home of the “Wolf Pack.” She serves as the U.S. Forces Korea Area VI commander for over 7,000 forward-stationed and combat-ready Air Force and Army personnel. As the 8th FW Commander, Col. Gaetke is responsible for plans, support and execution of military operations in support of counter-air, aerial interdiction and close-air support for 7th Air Force. The 8th FW is a primary exercise and rotational force bed-down location for U.S. air component forces, maintaining active flightline operations, war reserve material and munitions at multiple contingency operating bases across the Korean Peninsula.
Col. Gaetke received her commission in 2002 through Air Force ROTC at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. She has flown F-16s in Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Education and Training Command. She is a command pilot with more than 2,000 flying hours in the Block 25, 30, 40, 42, 50, and 52 F-16, including 249 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Col. Gaetke is a graduate of the Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies, commanded an F-16 squadron, served as an executive officer to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and taught leadership and diplomacy courses as an Air Force Fellow at Georgetown University. Prior to her current assignment, Col. Gaetke served as the Operations Group Commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, ROK.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
2003 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2014 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Master of Military Art & Science, School of Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.
2021 Air Force Fellow, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2023 Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
- February 2003 – March 2004, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
- April 2004 – May 2005, Student, F-16 Fighter Training Unit, 63 FS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- June 2005 – April 2007, F-16 Flight Lead, Assistant Chief Sq Weapons, 523 FS, Cannon AFB, N.M.
- May 2007 – May 2008, F-16 Mission Commander, Chief Sq Training, 36 FS, Osan Air Base, Korea
- June 2008 – July 2010, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 61 FS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- August 2010 – August 2011, F-16 IP, Air to Air Subject Matter Expert, 56 TRS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- August 2011 – July 2013, F-16 Flight Examiner, Asst Director of Operations, 14 FS, Misawa AB, Japan
- August 2013 – June 2014, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2014 – May 2015, Student, School of Advanced Military Studies, Ft Leavenworth, Kan.
- June 2015 – June 2016, Director of Operations, 425 FS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- June 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 309 FS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- July 2018 – August 2019, Operations Officer, Nuclear Operations Division: Nuclear Operations, Space Operations, and Homeland Defense Directorate (J36), the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
- September 2019 – July 2020, Deputy Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
- August 2020 – July 2021, Air Force Fellow, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
- July 2021 - June 2022, Chief of Plans and Strategy, Operations and Plans Division (A3/A5), 7th Air Force, Osan AB, Korea
- July 2022 – June 2023, Director of Operations and Plans (A3/A5), 7th Air Force, Osan AB, Korea
- June 2023 – May 2025, Commander, 51st Operations Group, Osan AB, Korea
- May 2025 – Present, Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Korea
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2018 – August 2019, Operations Officer, Nuclear Operations Division: Nuclear Operations, Space Operations, and Homeland Defense Directorate (J36), the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
- September 2019 – July 2020, Deputy Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,200
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
(Current as of May 2025)