Kirk S. Pierce

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Kirk S. Pierce
Lt. Gen. Kirk S. Pierce.jpg
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1988–present
RankLieutenant General
Commands heldFirst Air Force
173rd Fighter Wing
113th Operations Group
121st Fighter Squadron
Battles/warsIraq War
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
Purple Heart

Kirk Stewart Pierce[1] is a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force.[2] He is the current commander of the First Air Force.

Air Force career[]

Raised in Victor, New York,[1] Pierce was commissioned in 1988 after he graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in aerospace engineering. He attended pilot training at Williams AFB, and initially flew as a first assignment instructor pilot for the T-38 Talon. He transitioned to flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon in 1995. He was assigned to 79th Fighter Squadron at Shaw AFB and the 80th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan AB. In 2001, he transitioned to the United States Air National Guard, and was assigned to the 138th Fighter Squadron at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base. He commanded the 121st Fighter Squadron and the 113th Operations Group at Andrews AFB, and the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field. In July 2020, he assumed command of the First Air Force at Tyndall AFB.[3]

Awards and decorations[]

COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.png Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png Headquarters Air Force Badge
Defense Superior Service Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edgesBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Purple Heart
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.Silver oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Meritorious Service Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
"V" device, gold.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Commendation Medal with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
"V" device, brass.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and two oak leaf clusters
Army Superior Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Silver oak leaf cluster
 Combat Readiness Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Bronze star
 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service star
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svgBronze-service-star-3d-vector.svgBronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Iraq Campaign Medal with three service stars
Bronze star
 Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and two oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgSilver oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
Hourglass Device Bronze.svgBronze M Device.svgAward numeral 5.png Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze Hourglass device, "M" device and bronze award numeral 5
Bronze star
 Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star
Air Force Training Ribbon

Effective dates of promotions[2][]

Pierce is promoted to lieutenant general at the Inter-American Defense College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. on July 24, 2020.
Rank Date
US Air Force O1 shoulderboard rotated.svg Second Lieutenant May 14, 1988
US Air Force O2 shoulderboard rotated.svg First Lieutenant October 29, 1990
US Air Force O3 shoulderboard rotated.svg Captain October 29, 1992
US Air Force O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major November 19, 1999
US Air Force O5 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant Colonel January 20, 2005
US Air Force O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg Colonel June 16, 2010
US Air Force O7 shoulderboard rotated.svg Brigadier General April 3, 2016
US Air Force O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major General January 15, 2019
US Air Force O9 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant General July 29, 2020


References[]

  1. ^ a b 1988 Commencement (PDF). The University of Notre Dame du Lac. May 13–15, 1988. p. 43. Retrieved February 12, 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  2. ^ a b "Lieutenant General Kirk S. Pierce (USAF)". United States Air Force. May 19, 2021. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ McCullough, Amy (June 5, 2020). "Pierce Tapped to Lead 1st Air Force". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Director of the Air National Guard
2019–2020 		Succeeded by
Commander of the First Air Force
2020–present 		Incumbent
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