Col Kendrick L. Carroll is the Commander, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He is responsible for Air Combat Command's fleet of E-3 Airborne Warning & Control System aircraft and ground-based Control & Reporting Centers supporting combatant commanders worldwide. He leads over 2,800 men and women at four Air Force bases and manages resources that include the E-3 AWACS aircraft and CRCs valued at $9 billion. Col Carroll also oversees Air Combat Command’s largest Programmed Flying Training Unit and its non-aircraft specific functional training.
Prior to this assignment, Col Carroll was the Chief, C2ISR Operations Division, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Operations Directorate, Joint Base Langley-Eustis. He led a 99-person division tasked to organize, train, and equip battle management command and control and intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance for global combatant commander operations. He directed and implemented programs for AOC, AFFOR, E-3, RC-135, EC-130, CRC, TFI units, global Link-16, homeland defense sensors, communications, and datalink to ensure commanders received mission-ready personnel and equipment.
Col Carroll received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Mississippi Valley State University and was commissioned in 2000. Since completing air battle manager training, he has served as E-3 Evaluator Senior Director, Master Control and Reporting Center Evaluator Senior Director, Flight Commander, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Assistant Operations Officer, two times as Director of Operations, Squadron and Group Commander. Col Carroll has led combat crews in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, SOHIL LARAM, PATAN GAHR, Counterdrug and NOBLE EAGLE.
He is a Master Air Battle Manager with over 1,800 hours in the E-3B/C/G.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS
2001 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2007 USAF Weapons School, Air Battle Manager Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV
2009 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Master of Business Administration, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK
2014 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2020 Master of Strategic Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2000 – May 2001: Assistant Regional Director of Admissions, AFROTC DET 560, Manhattan College, Bronx, New York
2. May 2001 – May 2002: Student, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Course, 325th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, FL
3. June 2002 – February 2003: Student, E-3 Air Weapons Officer Course, 552nd Training Squadron, 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, OK
4. March 2003 – August 2005: Air Weapons Officer, Senior Director, Flight Commander, 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, OK
5. August 2005 – January 2007: Flight Commander, Instructor Senior Director, 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, OK
6. January 2007 – June 2007: Student, USAF Weapons Instructor Course, 8th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
7. July 2007 – July 2008: Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, OK
8. July 2008 – July 2009: Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 621st Air Control Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
9. July 2009 – June 2010: Instructor, Flight Commander, Phase Manager, 8th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
10. July 2010 – June 2011: Assistant Operations Officer-Requirements, 8th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
11. June 2011 – July 2012: Operations Officer-Battle Management, 8th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
12. July 2012 – June 2013: Director of Operations, 8th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
13. July 2013 – June 2014: Student, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
14. July 2014 – June 2016: ABM Weapons and Tactics Program Manager, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
15. June 2016 – June 2017: Director of Operations, 57th Weapons Support Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
16. June 2017 – June 2019: Commander, 8th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
17. June 2019 – May 2020: Student, United States Air Force Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
18. June 2020 – July 2022: Deputy Division Chief, CENTCOM CC/J36, Command and Control Division
19. July 2022 – June 2024: Commander, 552nd Training Group, Tinker AFB, OK
20. June 2024 – July 2025: Chief, C2ISR Operations Division, Joint Base Langley-Eustis
21. July 2025 – Present: Commander, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, OK
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Air Battle Manager
Flight hours: Over 1,800 hours
Aircraft flown: E-3B/C/G
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with V device and one silver leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Distinguished Graduate, E-3B Senior Director Upgrade Course, May 2006
964 AACS Air Battle Manager of the Year, 2004
57 WG Instructor Air Battle Manager of the Year, 2011
Air Combat Command Instructor Air Battle Manager of the Year, 2011
57 WPSS Field Grade Officer of the Year, 2016
(Current as of July 2025)