Aaron R. Krukow attended United States Army Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in January, 1995. After graduating from the Defense Language Institute’s Basic Arabic Course and the signals intercept course, he received orders to 311th Military Intelligence Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky to serve as an Arabic linguist. During this assignment, he deployed to Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. While deployed, he was selected for commissioning and returned from deployment to attend the University of Minnesota. Upon graduation, he commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
After completing The Basic School and Air Support Control Officer Course, Second Lieutenant Krukow reported to Marine Air Support Squadron 2 (MASS-2) in July, 2003. He served as the Motor Transport / Utilities Platoon Commander, Logistics Officer, Company Executive Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer before departing in December, 2006 for the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California.
Graduating from the Naval Postgraduate School and the Defense Language Institute’s Basic Korean Course, Captain Krukow reported to the Defense Attaché’s Office, United States Embassy, Seoul, Korea to complete his training as a Foreign Area Officer. While there, he extensively traveled the region and continued his studies at Seoul National University.
In September, 2010, Captain Krukow reported back to MASS-2 and was reassigned to Personnel Support Detachment 18 as the Assistant Operations Officer. In July 2012 he returned to Marine Air Support Squadron 2 as the Operations Officer. In November 2013, Major Krukow departed for Daejeon, Republic of Korea, to attend the Joint Forces Military University. Upon graduating from Korean Command and Staff, he was assigned to United States Marine Corps Forces, Korea to serve as the United States Marine Corps Liaison to the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, working as the only American on site, advising United States and Korean General Officers.
In July, 2016 Major Krukow reported to Marine Air Control Squadron 4 to serve as the Squadron Executive Officer. In July, 2018 he was reassigned to Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 18 as the Squadron Executive Officer. In April, 2019 he was again reassigned to Personnel Support Detachment 18 to serve as the Marine Air Control Group 18 Executive Officer and was subsequently promoted to his current rank.
Lieutenant Colonel Krukow is a graduate of the Air Support Control Officer Course, Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Republic of Korea Command and Staff College. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and South Asian/Middle Eastern Studies, a Master of Business Administration, a Master of International Management, and a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs (Northeast Asia), with distinction. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star.