Karen Giles is currently the President, Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Giles was Director, Port Mortuary, Dover AFB, Delaware from 2003 to 2008. After separating from the active duty military in 1992, Ms. Giles worked for Morehead State University as an Assistant Professor, HRIM. From 1993 to 2002, she served as Vice President, Professional Development and Production, Educational Institute, American Hotel and Lodging Association, Orlando, Florida and Lansing, Michigan. From 2002-2003, worked for DeVry University as Director, Career Services, Orlando, Florida.
Along with her civilian career, Ms. Giles has completed twenty-two years of active duty and reserve service. Colonel Giles received her commission through OTS in 1985. Her first assignment was Operations Officer, 44th Combat Support Group, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. In August 1986, she was assigned as the Chief of Services, 1012th Air Base Group, Thule AB, Greenland. During her 16-year active duty and reserve tenure at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Colonel Giles served as course director and instructor for the Air Force Lodging Manager and Air Force Mortuary Affairs courses. Colonel Giles developed/conducted numerous seminars and course offerings related to lodging operations, financial management and mortuary affairs. Because of her experience in mortuary affairs, she was selected as a Division Chief, Port Mortuary, Dover AFB, Delaware during DESERT SHIELD/STORM, Deputy Personal Effects Depot Commander during NOBLE EAGLE (Pentagon 9-11) and Mass Fatality Director during the initial stages of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM/OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. She has served on the HQ USAF/A1S staff at the Pentagon and HQ ACC/A1S staff, Langley AFB, VA.
EDUCATION:
| 1984 |
Bachelor of Science – Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois |
| |
|
| 1989 |
Master of Science - Management, Florida International University, Miami, Florida (AFIT Civilian Institute Program) |
| |
|
| 1990 |
Squadron Officer School (correspondence and in-residence) |
| |
|
| 1991 |
Joint Mortuary Affairs Officer Course, United States Army Quartermaster School, Fort Lee, Virginia |
| |
|
| 1998 |
Air Force Command and Staff College (correspondence) |
| |
|
| 2005 |
Air War College (correspondence) |
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. November 1984 – February 1985, Officer Trainee, Officer Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. February 1985 – August 1986, Operations Officer, 44th Services Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
3. August 1986 – August 1987, Chief of Services, 1012th Air Base Group, Thule AB, Greenland
4. August 1987 – May 1989, Graduate Student, Air Force Institute of Technology (Civilian Institute Program), Florida International University, Miami, Florida
5. May 1989 – September 1992, Assistant Professor – Services Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. September 1992 – May 1993, Assistant Professor, Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky
7. May 1993 – August 1996, Training Consultant, Educational Institute, American Hotel and Motel Association, Lansing, Michigan
8. August 1996 – December 1998, Director – Professional Development, Educational Institute, American Hotel and Motel Association, Orlando, Florida
9. December 1998 – May 2002, Vice President – Professional Development and Production, Educational Institute, American Hotel and Lodging Association, Orlando, Florida
10. May 2002 – August 2003, Director – Career Services, DeVry University, Orlando, Florida
11. August 2003 – March 2008, Director – Port Mortuary, 436th Services Squadron, Dover AFB, Dover, Delaware
12. April 2008 – Present, President – Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, Ohio
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
- Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- Air Force Achievement Medal
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one oak leaf cluster
- National Defense Service Medal with one star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
| Second Lieutenant |
20 February 1986 |
| |
|
| First Lieutenant |
20 February 1988 |
| |
|
| Captain |
20 February 1990 |
| |
|
| Major |
01 January 1997 |
| |
|
| Lieutenant Colonel |
13 September 2001 |
| |
|
| Colonel |
24 March 2006 |
| |
|
| GS-13, DAFC |
04 August 2003 |