Lieutenant Colonel Steven L. LeMaire is the Commander, 344th Recruiting Squadron, Arlington, TX. He leads a squadron of thirteen flights of 105 people across Texas covering 98,000 square miles. He partners with military, civic, community and educational organizations to inspire, engage and recruit America’s best and brightest talent to the nation’s most advanced and agile fighting force in the air and space domains.
He manages a $1 million budget, contributing to training pipeline sustainment, force management goals, and strategically the readiness of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force to deter war and protect the security of our nation. The squadron’s mission is to shape the Air and Space Force of tomorrow by recruiting America’s finest in Texas to generate combat capability for Great Power Competition
Lt Col LeMaire was commissioned in 2008 after graduating from Angelo State University, Texas ROTC program. Previously, he was the Director, Commander’s Action Group for Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Commander for conducting focused research and analysis to articulate the commander’s vision and intent to Department of Defense decision makers, civic leaders, and foreign dignitaries. He was also the Operations Assessment Team Chief at the 612 Air Operations Center. He was an action officer on the Air Force Headquarters Staff leading the congressionally mandated Air Force Nuclear Mission Assessment. He was also an Education with Industry fellow at the RAND Corporation providing important insights into the decision-making process that augments policymaking at the national, strategic level. He had previous test and evaluation experiences in the U.S. Army Joint Test Element as the Chief, Reports and Analysis, and in the 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron as an A-10 Operations Research Analyst. Lt Col LeMaire also served as a protocol officer at the USAF Warfare Center.
EDUCATION
2008 Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
2009 Air and Space Basic Course, in Residence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Operations Research Systems Analyst-Military Applications Course, Fort Lee, VA
2011 Master of Science in Industrial Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
2012 Squadron Officer School, by Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 Squadron Officer School, in Residence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2019 NATO Comprehensive Operations Planning Course, in Residence, Oberammergau, Germany
2020 Air Command and Staff College, by Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
In Progress – Master of Science in International Relations (Eastern Europe Regional Focus), Troy University, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2009-May 2011, A-10 Operations Analyst, 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
2. May 2011-November 2011, Chief, A-10 Analyst, 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
3. November 2011-September 2012, Protocol Officer, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, NV
4. October 2012-February 2014, Joint Test Unit Lead Analyst, U.S. Army Joint Test Element, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
5. February 2014-July 2015, Chief, Reports and Analysis, U.S. Army Joint Test Element, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
6. August 2015-July 2016, Education with Industry Fellow, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA
7. August 2016-March 2020, Nuclear Enterprise Analyst, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC
8. April 2020-July 2021, Chief, Operations Assessment Team, 612 Air Operations Center, Davis- Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ
9. July 2021-April 2022, Deputy Director, Commander’s Action Group, Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Davis- Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ
10. April 2022-January 2023, Director, Commander’s Action Group, Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Davis- Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ
11. January 2023-Present, Chief, Strategic and Operational Plans, Planning Enterprise A5X, Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Davis – Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ
DEPLOYMENT
1. April 2019-November 2019, Staff Officer, NATO HQ KFOR J5 Plans, Pristina, Kosovo
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
12 AF (AFSOUTH) AFFOR Staff Field Grade Officer of the Year 2021
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant December 31, 2008
First Lieutenant October 19, 2010
Captain October 19, 2012
Major July 1, 2018
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2023
(Current as of April 2023)