Lt Col Kevin C. Rivers

Lt Col Rivers official photo

Lt Col Rivers is the Commander, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 130, Howard University, Washington, D.C.  He is responsible for educating and training future officers to lead our Nation’s Air and Space Forces as well as leading a cadre of instructors and staff.  Detachment 130 cadets hail from the host university as well as American University, The Catholic University of America, The George Washington University, Georgetown University, Marymount University, Trinity University, and the University of the District of Columbia.

Prior to assuming his role at Detachment 130, Lt Col Rivers served as the Director, S8 - Program Integration, Resource Management, and Strategic Posture and Basing, United States Space Forces in Europe and United States Space Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. There, he led the Command in aligning the Commander's priorities towards critical resourcing requirements through the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution phases of the defense budget. Additionally, Lt Col Rivers was responsible for the development/execution of Space Forces in Europe and Africa Strategic Basing and Force posture initiatives within the European and African theaters.

Lt Col Rivers previously served as the the Deputy Chief, European Deterrence Initiative (Integration), where he provided strategic and operational planning/execution of a $3.8B funding source and orchestrated requirement integrations across six Headquarter Directorates and nine operational Wings. He has held positions as a USSOCOM Ghost Program Manager, is an Education with Industry (EWI) alum, a SAF/AQ Program Element Monitor, and a White House Social Aide. Lt Col Rivers also has experience leading at the SAF Headquarters and C-FLDCOM/ MAJCOM Staff, Wing, and Program Management Office echelons.    

 

Education

2009  Bachelor of Science, Business Management, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado

2010  Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL

2012  Undergraduate Space Training (Space 100), Vandenberg SFB, CA

2014  Squadron Officer School, In-Residence

2016  Intermediate Space Training (Space 200), Peterson SFB, CO

2016  Master of Science, Operations Research, Southern Methodist University Lyle School of Engineering, Dallas, TX

2017  Education with Industry Fellowship, Dallas, TX

2021  MBA (International), University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Charlottesville, VA

2022  Master of Arts, Military Operational Art & Science, Air Command & Staff College, AL, In-Residence

2026  Air War College, Correspondence

2026  Leadership Development Course, AETC, In-Residence

Assignments

  1. October 2009 – May 2011, Chief, Test Systems Support Branch, Maxwell AFB- Gunter Annex, AL
  2. June 2011 – Dec 2011, Project Manager, Theater Medical Information Program- Air Force, Maxwell AFB- Gunter Annex, AL
  3. Jan 2012 – March 2012, Executive Officer (Acting) to the PEO, Business and Enterprise Systems, Maxwell AFB- Gunter Annex, AL
  4. March 2012 – October 2012, Air Force Program Executive Officer Program Integration Manager, Maxwell AFB- Gunter Annex, AL
  5. October 2012 – October 2014, RAIDRS Operational Test and Evaluation IPT Lead, Los Angeles AFB, CA
  6. October 2014 – June 2015, Program Manager, Counter Communication System / Space Control Initiatives, Los Angeles AFB, CA
  7. June 2015 – May 2016, Executive Officer, Space Superiority Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, CA
  8. June 2016 – August 2016, Acquisitions Lead, Advanced Technologies, Los Angeles AFB, CA
  9. August 2016 – June 2017, EWI Fellowship, La Quinta Inns and Suites, Dallas, TX
  10. July 2017 – May 2018, Chief, Space and Cyberspace Policy, Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, Washington, D.C.
  11. Sept 2017 – Jan 2018, USSOCOM GHOST, USSOCOM AT&L, MacDill AFB, FL
  12. June 2018 – July 2019, Chief, Strategic Engagements, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, Washington, D.C.
  13. July 2019 – July 2021, Program Element Monitor, C-130, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, Washington, D.C.
  14. January 2019 – July 2021, White House Social Aide, White House Military Office, Washington, D.C.
  15. July 2021 – May 2022, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
  16. June 2022 – November 2023, Deputy Chief, European Deterrence Initiative (Integration) for Headquarters USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein AB, Germany
  17. April 2023 – October 2023, Executive Officer/Director of Staff – NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo, Camp Butmir, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Joint and Multi-National)
  18. December 2023 – July 2026, Director (S8), Programs, Resources and Posture, Headquarters US Space Forces in Europe-Africa (USSPACEFOREUR-AF), Ramstein AB, Germany
  19. July 2026 - Present, Commander, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Coprs Detachment 130, Howard University, Washington D.C.

 

Major Awards and Decorations

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Joint Service Achievement Medal

NATO Medal (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Effective Date of Promotion

Second Lieutenant        July 31, 2009

First Lieutenant             July 31, 2011

Captain                           July 31, 2013

Major                              June 1, 2019

Lieutenant Colonel      March 1, 2024

(Current as of July 2026)