42-years of service – Master Sgt. Tom Krob
DULUTH, Minn. — In May 1982, Joan’s Jett’s ‘I Love Rock ‘N Roll’ was number one on the radio, and Superior-native, Master Sgt. Tom Krob enlisted at the Duluth-based 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, as an Aircraft Fuel Systems Specialist.
Early in his career, Krob worked on the Wing’s F-4 Phantom II aircraft. He was amongst the Bulldogs who conducted air sovereignty alert duties in Western Europe from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in support of a 1986 mission called Creek Klaxon. Shortly afterward, he transferred to 173rd Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard, for four-years in support of their homeland defense mission. He returned to the 148th in 1990.
In 1996, Krob cross-trained to the Aircraft Hydraulic Systems career field. In this capacity he’s responsible for maintaining fluid-, air- or gas-pressured devices on the Wing’s F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. Hydraulic Systems specialists ensure hydraulic and pneumatic systems work as intended. “We’re responsible for landing gear maintenance and overhauls, phase maintenance and flight controls,” Krob said.
Throughout the 1990s, Krob supported the Air National Guard’s drug interception mission at both Howard Air Force Base, Panama and Curacao Naval Air Station in support of Operation CORONET NIGHTHAWK.
After 9/11, Krob found himself supporting another air defense mission, Operation NOBLE EAGLE. Krob traveled to Minneapolis with the 148th Fighter Wing to conduct 24/7 Combat Air Patrols over the entire Midwest. Over the next few years, Krob traveled with the Wing to Langley Air Force Base; Carswell, Tex., and Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., to support NORAD’s Aerospace Control Alert homeland defense mission.
The onset of Global War on Terror created new mission needs for the Air National Guard. As a result, the 148th was tasked with supporting operational overseas deployments. Krob deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq in 2005 and 2007 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM; Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan in 2012 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea in 2016 in support of a Theater Security Package; Ahmed al-Jaber Air Base, Kuwait in in 2018 support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE; and Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudia Arabia in 2022 in support Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and SPARTAN SHIELD.
When asked if he has any memories from these deployments that stand out, Krob recalls “getting a call from my supervisor telling me to grab my camera and meet him at work”. While deployed to Kuwait in May of 2018, his deployed air base endured a storm with 91-mile per hour straight-line winds that caused industrial sun shelters to collapse onto and damage seven of the Wing’s F-16 aircraft. Krob, a life-long photographer, captured the devastation the storm caused.
In his off-time, Krob can be found at local dirt tracks photographing auto racing or, in the winter, at local arenas shooting girl’s high school hockey. He’s used those creative talents at many temporary duty locations, like Kuwait, to capture imagery of the 148th Fighter Wing in action around the world.
At the end of this week, Krob will retire with more than 42-years and two-months of service to his state and nation; just shy of his 60th birthday. “I’ve enjoyed working with personnel from maintenance my whole career. It’s felt more like an experience than a job,” said Krob. “You get out of this career what you put into it.”
Story by Audra Flanagan
148th Fighter Wing
