Bio

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Commander Steven M. Kohnke is a retired member of the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve, having served 42 years, 8 months and 1 day of military service. He enlisted at age 17 and retired at age 60. During his active duty service he was stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan with the Strategic Air Command.

After active duty, Steve continued serving his country in the Air Force Reserve with the 440th Airlift Wing at General Mitchell Field in Milwaukee, later relocating with the unit to Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, following the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. During his Reserve career he traveled extensively, serving in locations from Okinawa to Germany, as well as numerous stateside installations. He participated in Operation Fiery Vigil, assisting with the evacuation of military personnel from the Philippines following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, and deployed to the United Arab Emirates during Operation Desert Storm, where he helped establish an air base to support C-130 tactical airlift operations.

Steve has been a proud member of Oelschlaeger-Dallmann Post 434 in Oak Creek throughout his entire American Legion career and is an Honorary Life Member of the Post.

Within The American Legion, Steve has held numerous leadership positions including Post Vice Commander and Commander, as well as District Vice Commander and District Commander. He served 3 years as District Commander of the 4th District, achieving 100% membership during the 2024-2025 year when the District received the Walter DeWeese award.

Commander Kohnke has been involved in membership efforts across the Department, serving four years on the Department Membership Committee, including time as Vice Chair under Chair Jim Waltich. His dedication to membership growth earned him recognition as Department Recruiter of the Year in 2017, as well as Gold Brigade Recruiter once and Silver Brigade Recruiter three times. 

At the National level, he has received a National Appointment to The American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission where he has served for the past two years.

Commander Kohnke is also active in other Legion Family organizations. he served as Past President and Director of The American Legion Riders District 4/5. He is a Paid Up for Life (PUFL) member of Forty and Eight Voiture #1519, where he served as Aide to Grande Chef de Gare John Edelblute IV, and he also served as Vice Commander of Sons of The American Legion Squadron 434.

He is a graduate of the Wisconsin American Legion College and National American Legion College.

Commander Kohnke and his wife Mary have been married for 43 years. They have two children, daughter Samantha (Joshua) and son Kyle (Brianna) and six grandchildren. Their entire family proudly participates as members of  The American Legion Family.

Through more than four decades of military service and continued leadership in The American Legion, Commander Kohnke remains dedicated to serving veterans, their families, and the communities of Wisconsin.