Lt Col Jena Gartland is a Professor of Aerospace Studies at Detachment 465, The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska. She is responsible for recruiting and overseeing the preparation of over 60 officer candidates through a comprehensive college program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
 

Lieutenant Colonel Gartland was commissioned in 2008 through the United States Air Force Academy, graduating with a degree in Meteorology. She completed Combat Systems Officer Training for the AC-130W in 2012, and since then has held a variety of positions. Prior to this assignment, Lt Col Gartland was the Special Technical Operations (STO) Chief at the 607th Air Operations Center, where she was responsible for integrating joint & coalition sensitive capabilities into exercises & CONOPS supporting INDOPACOM's crisis & contingency planning.

EDUCATION
2008 Bachelor of science degree in Meteorology, USAFA, CO
2010 Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola NAS, FL
2014 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 Master of Liberal Studies, Organizational Leadership, Fort Hays State University, KS
2015 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2024 Air War College, Correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS 
1.  July 2008 - March 2010, student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola NAS, FL
2.  April 2010 - April 2011, student, C-130 Initial Qualification Training, 189th FTS, Little Rock, AR
3.  May 2011 - March 2014, Combat Systems Officer, 73rd SOS, Cannon AFB, NM
4.  April 2014 - Jun 2015, Instructor Combat Systems Officer, 73rd SOS, Cannon AFB, NM
5. July 2015 - July 2017, Evaluator Combat Systems Officer, Chief of Tactics, 16th SOS, Cannon AFB, NM
6. August 2017 - Jun 2020, Chief of Plans, 14th WPS, Hurlburt Field, FL
7. July 2020 - July 2021, Assistant Director of Operations, 16th SOS, Cannon AFB, NM
8. August 2021 - Jun 2022, Deputy Chief, Group Standardization and Evaluations, 27th SOG, Cannon AFB, NM
9. July 2022 – May 2025, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Det 115, Storrs, CT
10. June 2025 – June 2026, Chief, Special Technical Operations, 607 AOC, Osan AB, South Korea
11. July 2026 – Present, Professor of Aerospace Studies, Det 465, Lincoln, NE

FLIGHT INFORMATION 
Rating:  Master Combat Systems Officer
Flight hours:  More than 3,000
Aircraft flown:  AC-130W, C-130H, T-39, T-1, T-6

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION 
List the rank and effective date of promotion using the full rank, month, day, and year in AP style. List all ranks from enlistment/commissioning to the current rank held.

Second Lieutenant May 28, 2008
First Lieutenant May 28, 2010
Captain May 28, 2012
Major Feb. 1, 2018
Lieutenant Colonel    Mar 1, 2023

(Current as of July 2026)