Colonel Jennifer L. Saraceno
Commander, 517th Training Group
Colonel Jennifer L. Saraceno currently serves as the Assistant
Commandant, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
and the Commander, 517th Training Group, Presidio of Monterey,
California. In this capacity, Colonel Saraceno directs language training
for 34,000 Department of Defense personnel annually in 89 languages
at 29 sites worldwide. She also oversees 1,800 faculty members and
250 joint-service staff providing language training, proficiency testing,
and curriculum to train successful linguists. As the 517th Training
Group Commander, Colonel Saraceno leads two Air Force squadrons
composed of 1,200 Airmen, the majority of whom are Air Force Cryptologic Linguist trainees.
Prior to entering the United States Air Force, Colonel Saraceno worked as a legislative assistant in the United States House of Representatives from January 1993 through March 2000. As a Senior Legislative Assistant and Military Legislative Assistant, she framed and supported execution of the Congressman’s legislative agenda on issues ranging from health care and education to foreign affairs and defense. During this time, the Secretary of the Air Force invited her to attend the Air Command and Staff College Seminar on Capitol Hill, from which she graduated in October 1999.
Colonel Saraceno entered the Air Force through the Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama.
A career intelligence officer and U.S. Air Force Weapons School graduate, she has held several operational and staff
positions, commanded an intelligence detachment charged with supporting space operations, and commanded the
Air Force's largest airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) flying squadron with over 550
Airmen crewing all variants of the RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft. She served on the Air Staff, the Joint Staff, and on
the command staff for the Director, Defense Intelligence Agency. Colonel Saraceno deployed in support of and led
intelligence operations for multiple contingencies to include Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi
Freedom.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
1994 Master of Arts degree in Government, Lehigh University - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
1999 Air Command and Staff College, Seminar, Washington, District of Columbia
2004 United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2013 Air Command and Staff College (Top Third Graduate), Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2015 School of Advance Air and Space Studies (AU Ph.D. Candidate), Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2018 Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Ft McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
2021 MIT Seminar XXI Fellow, Certificate in Foreign Politics, International Relations, and the National Interest
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2000 – April 2001, Student, Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2. May 2001 – May 2002, Chief of Intelligence, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
3. June 2002 – July 2004, Deputy Chief of Intelligence Systems and Resources, 33rd Operations Support Squadron,
Chief of Intelligence Training, 33rd Operations Support Squadron and Chief of Intelligence, 58th Fighter Squadron,
Eglin AFB, Florida
4. July 2004 – December 2004, Student, United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada
5. January 2005 – December 2005, Chief, Intelligence Operations, 8th Operations Support Squadron and Wing
Intelligence Weapons Officer, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
6. February 2006 – December 2007, Deputy Intelligence Flight Commander and Chief of Intelligence Weapons,
Tactics and Training, 563rd Operations Support Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
7. December 2007 – June 2009, Action Officer, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Strategic Studies Group –
CHECKMATE, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, District of Columbia.
8. June 2009 – June 2010, Branch Chief, ISR Strategy Futures – Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance, and
Reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, District of Columbia.
9. June 2010 – June 2011, Deputy Chief, DCS/ISR Action Group - Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance,
and Reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, District of Columbia.
10. July 2011 – July 2013, Commander, Detachment 4, 18th Intelligence Squadron, RAF Feltwell, UK
11. August 2013 – June 2014, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell, AFB, Alabama
12. July 2014 – July 2015, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell, AFB, Alabama
13. June 2015 – July 2017, Commander, 97th Intelligence Squadron, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
14. August 2017 – June 2018, Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy,
Ft McNair, Washington, District of Columbia.
15. June 2018 – September 2020, VCJCS Special Projects Officer, Directorate for Intelligence, J2, The Joint Staff,
Washington, District of Columbia
16. September 2020 – July 2021, Executive Officer to the Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, District
of Columbia
17. July 2021 – Present, Assistant Commandant, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and
Commander, 517th Training Group, Presidio of Monterey
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal w/ Bronze Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 7, 2000
First Lieutenant July 7, 2002
Captain July 7, 2004
Major June 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel February 1, 2015
Colonel January 1, 2021
(CURRENT AS OF JULY 2021)
Chief Master Sergeant Shaun E. Khoenle
Superintendent, 517th Training Group
Chief Master Sergeant Shaun E. Khoenle is the Superintendent of the 517th Training Group, Presidio of Monterey, Monterey, California. He is the senior enlisted leader for 150 staff executing language training for 1,400 students, in support of national level agencies and combatant commanders. CMSgt Khoenle also serves as an advisor to the Commander on all matters influencing military readiness, mission effectiveness, and utilization. He oversees enlisted force development and manages group-wide manpower, resources, plans, and policy.
CMSgt Khoenle grew up in Akron, Ohio and entered the Air Force in July 2000. His background includes various duties in the Security Forces and intelligence career fields. He has deployed in support of operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL. CMSgt Khoenle also served in the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands Program as an Afghanistan Hand in Kandahar City, Afghanistan. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Superintendent for the 31st Intelligence Squadron, Fort Gordon, Georgia. CMSgt Khoenle is married to Johanna M. Keefe of Wilmette, Illinois.
EDUCATION
2000 Security Forces Academy, Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas
2004 Airman Leadership School, Osan Air Base (AB), Republic of Korea
2005 Security Forces Craftsman School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2006 Operational Intelligence School, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, Colorado
2010 Associate in Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice, Community College of the Air Force
2010 Associate in Applied Science degree in Intelligence Studies & Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2013 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Columbia Southern University
2013 Human Resource Management Undergraduate Certificate, Columbia Southern University
2013 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2014 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course
2015 Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy Advanced Course, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia
2016 Senior Enlisted Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Master Skills Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course II
2017 USAFE Squadron Superintendents and Spouses Course, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
2020 Chief Leadership Course, Virtual In-Residence, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2000 - August 2000, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. September 2000 - November 2000, Student, Security Forces apprentice, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. December 2000 - August 2003, Flight Security Controller, 564th Missile Squadron and 341st Missile Security
Forces Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Montana
4. September 2003 - September 2004, Controller, 51st Security Forces Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
5. October 2004 - July 2006, Patrolman, 437th Security Forces Squadron, Charleston AFB, South Carolina
(February 2005 - September 2005, Deployed Fire Team Leader, 407th Expeditionary Security Force Squadron, Ali
Air Base, Iraq)
6. August 2006 - December 2006, Student, Operations Intelligence Apprentice, 315th Training Squadron, Goodfellow
AFB, Texas
7. January 2007 - September 2007, Flight Chief, Intelligence, 62nd Operations Support Squadron, McChord AFB,
Washington (October 2007 - March 2008, Regional Intelligence Analyst, Joint Intelligence Operations Center, International Security Assistance Force Headquarters, Afghanistan)
8. April - May 2010, NCOIC of Intelligence, 62nd Operations Group, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington
9. June 2010 - December 2011, Flight Chief, National-Tactical Integration, 324th Intelligence Squadron, Hickam Field, Hawaii
10. January 2012 - June 2013, Afghanistan/Pakistan Hand, Kandahar Peace and Reintegration Program Advisor, Kandahar City, Afghanistan
11. July 2013 - February 2015, Superintendent, United States Air Force Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field,
Florida
12. March 2015 - June 2016, Superintendent, Wing Intelligence, 31st Operations Support Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy (June 2016 - January 2017, Intelligence Directorate, Headquarters United States Air Forces Central Command, Combined Air Operations Center, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
13. February 2018 - June 2018, Superintendent, 31st Operations Support Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
14. July 2018 - January 2020, Superintendent and National Security Agency-Georgia Senior Enlisted Leader, 5th
Intelligence Squadron, Fort Gordon, Georgia
15. February 2020 - June 2021, Superintendent, 31st Intelligence Squadron, Fort Gordon, Georgia
16. July 2021 - Present, Superintendent, 517th Training Group, Presidio of Monterey, California
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Distinguished Graduate, Security Forces Academy
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School
2006 Distinguished Graduate, Operations Intelligence Technical School
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2017 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 31st Fighter Wing
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant, February 1, 2020
(CURRENT AS OF JULY 2021)