Lt. Col. Stefan "Steve" Hafner is the commander, 42nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He commands over 150 logistics professionals providing vital support for 42,000 active-duty, reserve, civilian, and contractor personnel, students and families at Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex in direct support of Air University, the 908th Airlift Wing, and 45 other mission partners.
Lt. Col. Hafner was commissioned in 2007 from the Air Force Academy and completed the logistics readiness officer basic course in June of 2008. He has served in a variety of roles within the logistics readiness squadron, culminating as a director of operations. His staff tours include an assignment as a logistics intelligence analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency and various roles in the Headquarters Air Force directorates of logistics, engineering and force protection and strategic plans and programming.
Lt. Col. Hafner has deployed twice to Afghanistan, first as a deputy joint transportation officer in Combined Joint Task Force 82 and CJTF101, and second as director of finance for NATO’s Afghan Army training mission. His most recent deployment was to Kuwait where he served in the CJTF-OIR CJ4 as senior airfield authority coordinator in the base camp management center. Prior to his current position, Lt. Col. Hafner was an instructor and deputy course director in the Department of International Security at the Air Command and Staff College, where he was responsible for educating the future leaders of our Air Force in key matters of international security and military affairs.
EDUCATION
2007 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2007 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Master of Arts, International Relations, Webster University, Mo.
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Graduate Certificate, Nuclear Weapons Effects, Policy and Proliferation, Air Force Institute of Technology, by correspondence
2018 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
August 2007 – June 2011, Installation Deployment Officer, Officer-in-Charge (various), Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (January 2010-August 2010, Deputy Joint Transportation Officer, Combined Joint Task Force 82/101, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan)
June 2011 – October 2014, Flight Commander (various), Operations Officer, Barksdale AFB, La. (November 2013- May 2014, Director of Finance, NATO Training Mission Afghanistan Deputy Command – Army, Kabul, Afghanistan)
October 2014 – October 2017, Transportation and Logistics Intelligence Analyst, Defense Intelligence Agency, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
October 2017 – June 2018, Deputy Chief, Distribution and Vehicle Management Branch, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
June 2018 – July 2020, Combat Force Logistics Programmer, Combat Air Forces Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Va. (March 2019 – October 2019, Senior Airfield Authority Coordinator, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait)
July 2020 – May 2021, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
May 2021 – April 2022, Instructor, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
April 2022 – present, Commander, 42nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
October 2014 – October 2017, Transportation and Logistics Intelligence Analyst, Defense Intelligence Agency, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., as a major
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2007 Distinguished Graduate, Basic Logistics Readiness Officer Course, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2010 Logistics Readiness Company Grade Officer of the Year, Air Force Global Strike Command
2015 National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Award, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 2007
First Lieutenant May 30, 2009
Captain May 30, 2011
Major March 1, 2017
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2022
(Current as of July 26, 2023)