Commandant of Cadets
Detachment 190, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Captain Mark Rardin is an Assistant
Professor of Aerospace Studies (APAS) at the University of Illinois,
Champaign, Ill. As an assistant Professor, he is responsible for
recruiting, educating, training, motivating, selecting, and
commissioning officer candidates through a comprehensive college
program. He provides academic instruction on fundamental Air Force
doctrine, practical leadership experience, and extensive field
training emphasizing physical fitness and officership to prepare
future officers for active duty.
Capt. Rardin is a native of Illinois. After graduating Mattoon Senior
High School in 1989, he attended Millikin University in Decatur,
Illinois for two years before enlisting in the United States Air Force
in November 1991 as a Propulsion Systems Craftsman. He later
cross-trained to become a maintenance scheduler. In March 2000, then
SSgt Rardin attended Officer Training School and was commissioned a 2d
Lieutenant in May 2000. Capt Rardin has served as an Aircraft
Maintenance and Munitions Officers at Scott AFB and Little Rock AFB.
Most recently, Capt Rardin was deployed to Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait and
Balad AB, Iraq as an Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer In Charge where
he helped stand up the first ever C-130H3 unit at Balad AB.
EDUCATION
1998
Associate of Applied Science in Aircraft Systems Maintenance
Technology, CCAF
1999
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology, Southern Illinois
University
2000
Associate of Applied Science in Production Management, CCAF
2005
Master of Science in
Operations Management, University of Arkansas
Specialized Certificates in Business Management, Industrial
Management, Human Resources Management and Safety and Health Care
Management
2006
Squadron Officer School,
Residence
ASSIGNMENTS
March 1991
– August 1993, Aircraft Propulsion Systems Craftsman, Grissom AFB,
Indiana
August
1993 – May 1995, Aircraft Propulsion Systems Craftsman, Grand Forks
AFB, North Dakota
May 1995 – Jun 1997, Aircraft Scheduler, Edwards AFB,
California
June 1997
– June 1998, Aircraft Maintenance Scheduler, OSAN AB, Republic of
Korea
June 1998
– March 2000, Wing Aircraft Scheduler, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
March 2000 – May 2000, Officer Training School,
Maxwell AFB, Alabama
May 2000 – June 2003, Maintenance Officer/Munitions
Officer, Scott AFB, Illinois
June 2003 – July 2006, Maintenance Operations Flight
Commander, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
October 2005 – February 2006, Aircraft Maintenance
Unit Commander, Balad AB, Iraq
Present,
Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, University of Illinois
MAJOR AWARDS
AND DECORATIONS
2005 Air Education and Training Command General Leo Marquez Award
Winner
Air Force Commendation
Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement
Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two
oak leaf clusters
