Obituary of Col Deborah Anne Kirkhuff, U.S. Air Force,

Col Deborah Anne Kirkhuff, U.S. Air Force, (Ret.), beloved daughter, wife, mother and sister, passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer on June 12, 2022 at her home surrounded by her family and friends. Second only to her family, Deb's greatest devotion was to the U.S. Air Force. Deb was born at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida on October 1, 1960. She graduated with highest honors and as a 4-letter athlete from W.R. Boone High School in Orlando, Florida in 1978, and was accepted into only the third class of women to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she earned a degree in Political Science, and upon graduation was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. The vast majority of her assignments were in Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), including Titan II ICBMs, Ground Launch Cruise Missile (GLCM) and Minuteman III ICBMs. She held many positions in Operations, Maintenance, and was an ICBM Program Element Monitor for both Headquarters Air Force Space Command and HQ USAF. Col Kirkhuff was engaged in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as the Director of the Host Nation Coordination Cell in the Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.After her deployment, she served as the Chief, Maintenance Division at HQ AFSPC. From there she assumed command as the 341st Maintenance Group Commander, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, and her final active-duty assignment was as Director of Staff for Headquarters Air Force Space Command. Col Kirkhuff was a Master Missileer in three weapons systems, Titan II ICBM, GLCM and Minuteman III ICBM, and was named Air Force Space Command ICBM Flight Commander of the Year in 1993. She also earned numerous other awards and citations including the Legion of Merit, Air Force Commendation medal, Air Force Achievement medal and the Combat Readiness medal. Even after retirement from the Air Force, Deb continued to provide civilian support to the ICBM world, working for defense contractors Booz Allen Hamilton, and BAE Systems on the follow-on ICBM system for the U.S. Air Force.Deb loved competition her entire life and pushed herself physically as an avid participant of both half and full IRONMAN triathlons, often with one or more of her sisters. She also thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of group participation in team endurance events, such as the RAGNAR and Colorado Relays. Deb's spirit and determination were admired my many and held firm through the entire two-year battle she waged against cancer. Deb is preceded in death by her father, LTJG David G. Smith, U.S. Navy; father-in-law, MSgt Miles L. Kirkhuff, II, U.S. Air Force; and one son, Michael J. Kirkhuff.She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of thirty-seven years, Maj Miles L. Kirkhuff, III, U.S. Air Force, (Ret.); three children, Miles L. Kirkhuff, IV, Kristine D. Kirkhuff and Kerri M. Kirkhuff; mother, Roslyn R. Mullen; mother-in-law, Diane L. Kirkhuff; sisters, Denise M. (James) Everett, Margarette H. (William) Ray, and Patricia M. (Vince) Van Brunt; brother, Robert H. Mullen; brother-in-law, Vance L. Kirkhuff; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.A Visitation was held on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at the Russon Mortuary and Crematory in Farmington, Utah. A second Visitation will be held from 10:00AM-12:00PM, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, The Springs Funeral Services-North, 6575 Oakwood Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80923.Graveside Service, 1:00PM, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado 80840. Events Visitation Wednesday, June 22, 2022 10:00AM - 12:00PM The Springs Funeral Services - North 6575 Oakwood Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Phone: 719-207-8611 Graveside Wednesday, June 22, 2022 1:00PM Air Force Academy Cemetery Cemetery Road Air Force Academy, CO 80840 Phone: 719-328-1793