Kingsley Field commander keynote speaker

Col. Adam Gaudinski, Commander of the 173d Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls will be the 2025 Keynote speaker for Klamath Community College’s commencement ceremonies June 13.

“We are extremely pleased to have Col. Gaudinski speak at our ceremonies,” KCC President Dr. Roberto Gutierrez said. “We have a strong partnership with the air base including our aviation program and the Base to Bachelor’s program which allows airmen to obtain a bachelor’s degree while serving.” There are other projects that the base and the college collaborate on, he added.

“What an honor and a responsibility to be chosen by Klamath Community College as its graduation commencement speaker,” said Col. Gaudinski. “I is my goal to inspire, help reflect and leave a lasting message with the graduates as they mark a pivotal life transition. I humbly look forward to standing with the graduates to validate their hard work, offer wisdom for the future, and shape how they remember their sacrifice and dedication for years to come.”

The Colonel commands the U.S. Air Force’s sole source of F-15C pilot production, tasked to train the world’s greatest air superiority fighter pilots. As such he leads over 1,100 personnel including the 110-member active association from Luke Air Force Base and is responsible for 23 total inventory and 26 primary assigned F-15 aircraft.

Furthermore, Col. Gaudinski is the Oregon Air National Guard State Partnership Program Air Lead and Senior Advisor for Vietnam and Bangladesh responsible for joint, multilateral efforts in the INDOPACOM region.

Col. Gaudinski graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2003 and was a four-year Division 1 lacrosse scholar-athlete. He completed undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi in 2005 and was hand-picked to return as a T-37 and T-6 instructor pilot for his first assignment. In a joint billet, he was selected to support Joint Counter-Narcoterrorism contingency operations for SOUTHCOM and SOCOM in Central and South America.

Col. Gaudinski is an F-15C Instructor Pilot with over 3,800 total flying hours and has participated in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, ATLANTIC RESOLVE, INHERENT RESOLVE, NOBLE EAGLE, and AMERICAN RESOLVE.

Prior to his current position, the Colonel was the Commander, 173d Maintenance Group, Kingsley Field, Oregon.

He holds a 2003 Bachelor of Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; 2013 Master of Business Administration, American University, Washington, DC.; 2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence; 2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence; 2022 Commanders Leadership Course, Washington, D.C.; 2022 Safety Board Presidents Course, Washington, D.C.; 2023 Joint and Combined Warfighter School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.

Commencement ceremonies start at 6 p.m. Families are asked to use the parking lots on the southern and western part of the campus, entering off Highway 39. Handicapped parking will be available.

For more information about KCC and its programs, visit www.klamathcc.edu.