LIEUTENANT COLONELWILLIAM P. JENSEN

COMMANDER, 343D RECONNASSANCE SQUADRON

Lieutenant Colonel William P. Jensen is the commander of the 343d Reconnaissance Squadron, 55^th Operations Group, 55^th Wing, Offutt AFB, Bellevue , Nebraska .   

Colonel Jensen was born in Needham , Massachusetts , on 12 August 1966 .  He spent his childhood near New Orleans , Louisiana .  He attended Archbishop Shaw High School where he excelled in academics, cross-country, and track.  He attended The Florida State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.  Colonel Jensen attended Florida State on an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship.  He was a “Distinguished Graduate” and the recipient of The Florida State University “President’s Award” as the top graduate.  He received a Master of Arts in Theology, “Summa Cum Laude,” from Liberty University in 2000 and a Master of Military Art and Science from the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies in 2005.

 Colonel Jensen attended Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training (SUNT) at Mather AFB, California , in 1990.  Following graduation, he attended KC-135 Combat Crew Training School at Castle AFB in Merced , California where he was a “Distinguished Graduate” and the “Top Performer.”  His first operational assignment was with the 38^th Reconnaissance Squadron (RS), Offutt AFB, Omaha , Nebraska , from 1992-1997.  The 38 RS “Hellcats” flew the RC-135 Rivet Joint and Combat Sent.  While stationed there he deployed in support of Operations Desert Calm, Southern Watch, Provide Comfort, Deny Flight, and Uphold Democracy.  Colonel Jensen served as a squadron Executive Officer, Instructor Navigator, and Standardization/Evaluation Evaluator.  His next assignment was with the 55^th Operations Group, Offutt AFB, Nebraska , 1997-1998, where he served as the Group RC-135 Evaluator Navigator, and was the focal point for all RC-135 issues.  Colonel Jensen transitioned to the 562d Flying Training Squadron, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training (JSUNT), Randolph AFB, San Antonio , Texas in 1998.  The 562d FTS provides academic, simulator, and flying training to Air Force, Navy, and International Officers to obtain the aeronautical rating of Navigator or Naval Flight Officer.  Colonel Jensen served as an Instructor, Flight Commander and Assistant Operations Officer.  In 2001, Colonel Jensen was selected to command Cadet Squadron Eleven at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado .  He was responsible for all discipline, military training, physical fitness and academic issues for 119 officer candidates.  Following command, Colonel Jensen served as the Commandant’s Executive Officer until 2003.  Colonel Jensen was selected to attend the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and School of Advanced Military Studies , Ft. Leavenworth , Kansas .  Following school, Colonel Jensen was selected as the 608^th Combat Plans Squadron as the Chief of Strategy for 8^th Air Force at Barksdale AFB, Shreveport, Louisiana. He also served as the Chief of the Strategy Plans Team in the CENTAF CAOC.  Colonel Jensen is a Master Navigator with over 3,200 flying hours.  He assumed his present duty April, 2007.

Colonel Jensen was selected for the 8 AF “The Lance P. Sijan USAF Leadership Award” for 2006.  The USAFA, 2d Cadet Group selected Colonel Jensen as the 2002 “Squadron Commander of the Year,” and “Field Grade Officer of the Year.”  His squadron, CS-11, was also selected for the “AETC Commander’s Trophy” as the top in academics.  He received the Daughters of the American Revolution’s “Outstanding Instructor Navigator of the Year,” 2000.  He was selected as the “Company Grade Officer of the Year,” 2000, for the 562 FTS and 12^th Operations Group.  Colonel Jensen was selected as the “Instructor Navigator of the Year” by the 12^th Flying Training Wing and 19^th Air Force in 1999.  Colonel Jensen is the recipient of the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Aerial Achievement Medal (7 OLC), the Commendation Medal, the Outstanding Unit Award with Valor (7 OLC), the Combat Readiness Medal (1 OLC), the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Force Expeditionary Medal (1 OLC), the Southwest Asia Service Medal (1 OLC), the GWOT Expeditionary Medal, the GWOT Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal (1 OLC), the Humanitarian Service Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal.  Colonel Jensen is married to the former Mary Titus of Omaha , Nebraska .  They have three children, Joshua, age 10, Ryanna, age 7, and Christiana, age 5.