Captain Grant Garst

CAPTAIN GRANT D. GARST

Capt Garst is the Operations Flight Commander of the Air Force and Space Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 280, at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. He is the liaison between the Detachment Commander and Cadet Wing, providing military discipline and career guidance to cadets directly supervising Leadership Laboratory and practical military training. Capt Garst entered the Air Force as a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy in 2013. He graduated and received his commission from the Academy in 2017. He is a career Acquisition Manager primarily focused on fielding and surveilling next-generation fighter and bomber weapon systems. Prior to his current assignment, he was an Expendable Countermeasures Integrated Project Team Lead.

EDUCATION

2017 Bachelor of Science, Business Management, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2018 Fundamentals of Acquisition Management, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

2021 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL

ASSIGNMENTS

1. July 2017–April 2018, Project Lead, Armament Systems Division, Eglin AFB, FL

2. April 2018 – December 2019, Executive Officer, Armament Systems Division, Eglin AFB, FL

3. December 2019 – July 2021, Project Manager, Nuclear Weapons Acquisition Division, Eglin AFB, FL

4. July 2021 – July 2023, Fuzes Integrated Project Team Lead, Munitions Sustainment Division, Hill AFB, UT

5. July 2023 – July 2024, Expendable Countermeasures Integrated Project Team Lead, Munitions Sustainment Division, Hill AFB, UT

6. July 2024 – Present, Instructor/Operations Flight Commander, Air Force ROTC Detachment 280, Lawrence, KS

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant May 24, 2017

First Lieutenant May 24, 2019

Captain May 24, 2021