List of United States Air Force four-star generals

Flag of an Air Force
four-star general

This is a complete list of four-star generals in the United States Air Force. The rank of general (or full general, or four-star general) is the highest rank normally achievable in the U.S. Air Force. It ranks above lieutenant general (three-star general) and below General of the Air Force (five-star general).

There have been 226 four-star generals in the history of the U.S. Air Force. Of these, 222 achieved that rank while on active duty, 3 were promoted after retirement, and one was promoted posthumously. Generals entered the Air Force via several paths: 60 were commissioned via the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), 49 via the aviation cadet program, 44 via the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), 41 via Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at a civilian university, 12 via AFROTC at a senior military college, 8 via Air Force Officer Training School (OTS), 4 via the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), 4 via Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at a civilian university, 2 via direct commission (direct), one via direct commission inter-service transfer from the Army National Guard (ARNG), and one via direct commission inter-service transfer from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

List of generals[]

Entries in the following list of four-star generals are indexed by the numerical order in which each officer was promoted to that rank while on active duty, or by an asterisk (*) if the officer did not serve in that rank while on active duty. Each entry lists the general's name, date of rank,^[1] active-duty positions held while serving at four-star rank,^[2] number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank (Yrs),^[3] year commissioned and source of commission,^[4] number of years in commission when promoted to four-star rank (YC),^[5] and other biographical notes (years of birth and death are shown in parentheses in the Notes column).^[6]

The list is sortable by last name, date of rank, number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank, year commissioned, and number of years in commission when promoted to four-star rank. The median number of years in commission to achieve four-star rank is 31 (as can be seen by sorting by 'YC' and scrolling halfway down this list) and the quickest rise to four-star is 22 years (LeMay and Norstad).

#	Name	Date of rank	Position	Yrs^[3]	Commission	YC^[5]	Notes
1	Henry H. Arnold	19 Mar 1943	Commanding General, Army Air Forces (CG AAF), 1942–1946.^[7]	3	1907 (USMA)	36	(1886–1950) Promoted to General of the Army, 21 Dec 1944; to General of the Air Force, 7 May 1949.
2	Joseph T. McNarney	7 Mar 1945	Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean/Commanding General, Mediterranean Theater of Operations, U.S. Army (DSACMED/CG MTOUSA), 1944–1945. Commanding General, U.S. Forces European Theater/Military Governor of the U.S. Occupation Zone in Germany (CG USFET/USMILGOV), 1945–1947. Senior member, United Nations Military Staff Committee, 1947. Commanding General, Air Material Command (CG AMC), 1947–1949. Chairman, Department of Defense Management Committee, 1949–1952.	7	1915 (USMA)	30	(1893–1972)
3	George Kenney	9 Mar 1945	Commanding General, Allied Air Forces, South West Pacific Area (CG AAFSWPA), 1942–1945. Member, Military Staff Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1945–1946. Commanding General, Strategic Air Command (CG SAC), 1946–1948. Commander, Air University, 1948–1951.	6	1917 (cadet)	28	(1889–1977)
4	Carl A. Spaatz	11 Mar 1945	Commanding General, U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe (CG USSAFE), 1944–1945. Commanding General, U.S. Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (CG USASTAF), 1945. Commanding General, Army Air Forces (CG AAF), 1946–1947. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1947–1948.	3	1914 (USMA)	31	(1891–1974)
5	Hoyt Vandenberg	1 Oct 1947	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1947–1948. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1948–1953.	6	1923 (USMA)	24	(1899–1954) Director of Central Intelligence, 1946–1947. Nephew of U.S. Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg; son married daughter of Air Force four-star general Leon W. Johnson.
6	Muir S. Fairchild	27 May 1948	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1948–1950.	2	1918 (cadet)	30	(1894–1950) Died in office.
7	Nathan F. Twining	10 Oct 1950	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1950–1953. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1953–1957. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 1957–1960.	10	1918 (USMA)	32	(1897–1982) Brother of Marine Corps four-star general Merrill B. Twining.
8	John K. Cannon	29 Oct 1951	Commanding General, Tactical Air Command (CG TAC), 1951–1954.	3	1917 (direct)	34	(1892–1955)
9	Benjamin W. Chidlaw	29 Oct 1951	Commanding General, Air Defense Command (CG ADC), 1951–1954. Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command/Commanding General, Air Defense Command (CINCONAD/CG ADC), 1954–1955.	4	1922 (USMA)	29	(1900–1977)
10	Curtis LeMay	29 Oct 1951	Commanding General, Strategic Air Command (CG SAC), 1948–1953. Commander, Strategic Air Command (COMSAC), 1953–1955. Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1955–1957. Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1957–1961. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1961–1965.	14	1929 (cadet)	22	(1906–1990) American Independent Party nominee for U.S. Vice president, 1968.
11	Lauris Norstad	5 Jul 1952	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1951. Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Air Forces in Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/CINCAIRCENT), 1951–1953. Air Deputy to Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (Air Deputy SHAPE), 1953–1956. Supreme Allied Commander, Europe/Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (SACEUR/USCINCEUR), 1956–1962. Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR), 1962–1963.	11	1930 (USMA)	22	(1907–1988)
12	Otto P. Weyland	5 Jul 1952	Commanding General, Far East Air Forces (CG FEAF), 1951–1954. Commanding General, Tactical Air Command (CG TAC), 1954–1959.	7	1923 (Texas A&M)	29	(1902–1979)
13	Thomas D. White	30 Jun 1953	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1953–1957. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1957–1961.	8	1920 (USMA)	33	(1902–1965)
14	Edwin W. Rawlings	19 Feb 1954	Commanding General, Air Materiel Command (CG AMC), 1951–1959.	5	1930 (cadet)	24	(1904–1997)
15	Earle E. Partridge	19 Feb 1954	Commanding General, Far East Air Forces (CG FEAF), 1954–1955. Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command/Commander, Air Defense Command (CINCONAD/COMADC), 1955–1956. Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCONAD), 1956–1957. Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD), 1957–1959.	5	1924 (USMA)	30	(1900–1990)
16	Orval R. Cook	1 Apr 1954	Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1954–1956.	2	1922 (USMA)	32	(1898–1980)
17	Laurence S. Kuter	29 May 1955	Commanding General, Far East Air Forces (CG FEAF), 1955–1957. Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1957–1959. Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD), 1959–1962.	7	1927 (USMA)	28	(1905–1979)^[8] U.S. Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization, 1946–1948.
18	Thomas S. Power	30 Jun 1957	Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1957–1964.	7	1929 (cadet)	28	(1905–1970)
19	Frank F. Everest	1 Jul 1957	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1957–1959. Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC), 1959–1961.	4	1928 (USMA)	29	(1904–1983)
20	Leon W. Johnson	31 Aug 1957	U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1956–1958. Air Deputy to Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (Air Deputy SHAPE), 1958–1961. Director, Net Evaluation Subcommittee Staff, National Security Council, 1961–1965.	8	1926 (USMA)	31	(1904–1997)^[9] Awarded Medal of Honor, 1943. Daughter married son of Air Force four-star general Hoyt S. Vandenberg.
21	Charles P. Cabell	11 Jul 1958^[10]	Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI), 1953–1962.	4	1925 (USMA)	33	(1903–1971) Distant cousin of Navy four-star admiral Richard H. Jackson.
22	Samuel E. Anderson	10 Mar 1959	Commander, Air Materiel Command (COMAMC), 1959–1961. Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1961. Air Deputy to Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (Air Deputy SHAPE), 1961–1963.	4	1928 (USMA)	31	(1906–1982)
23	Emmett O'Donnell, Jr.	31 Jul 1959	Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1959–1963.	4	1928 (USMA)	31	(1906–1971)
24	Frederic H. Smith, Jr.	1 Aug 1959	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1959–1961. Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1961–1962.	3	1929 (USMA)	30	(1908–1980) Son-in-law of Navy five-star admiral Ernest J. King.
25	Truman H. Landon	28 Jun 1961	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1961–1963.	2	1928 (USMA)	33	(1905–1986)
26	William F. McKee	29 Jun 1961	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1961–1962. Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1962–1964.	3	1929 (USMA)	32	(1906–1987) Assistant Administrator for Management and Development, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1964–1965; Administrator, Federal Aviation Agency, 1965–1968.
27	Walter C. Sweeney, Jr.	30 Jun 1961	Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC), 1961–1965.	4	1930 (USMA)	31	(1909–1965)
28	Bernard A. Schriever	1 Jul 1961	Commander, Air Force Systems Command (COMAFSC), 1961–1966.	5	1931 (Texas A&M)	30	(1910–2005)
29	John K. Gerhart	29 Jun 1962	Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD), 1962–1965.	3	1929 (cadet)	33	(1907–1981)
30	Dean C. Strother	30 Jun 1962	U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1962–1965. Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD), 1965–1966.	4	1931 (USMA)	31	(1908–2000)
31	Mark E. Bradley	1 Jul 1962	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1962–1965.	3	1930 (USMA)	32	(1907–1999)
32	John P. McConnell	1 Oct 1962	Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1962–1964. Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1964–1965. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1965–1969.	7	1932 (USMA)	30	(1908–1986)
33	Robert M. Lee	4 Jun 1963	Air Deputy to Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (Air Deputy SHAPE), 1963–1966.	3	1931 (USMA)	32	(1909–2003)
34	Jacob E. Smart	5 Jun 1963	Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1963–1964. Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1964–1966.	3	1931 (USMA)	32	(1909–2006) Assistant Administrator for Policy/DoD and Interagency Affairs, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1967–1973.
35	Joe W. Kelly	6 Jun 1963	Commander, Military Air Transport Service (COMMATS), 1960–1964.	1	1932 (USMA)	31	(1910–1979)
36	Gabriel P. Disosway	1 Aug 1963	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1963–1965. Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC), 1965–1968.	5	1933 (USMA)	30	(1910–2001)
37	Hunter Harris, Jr.	18 Jul 1964	Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1964–1967.	3	1932 (USMA)	32	(1909–1987)
38	Howell M. Estes II	19 Jul 1964	Commander, Military Airlift Command (COMAC), 1964–1969.	5	1936 (USMA)	28	(1914–2007) Father of Air Force four-star general Howell M. Estes III.
39	John D. Ryan	1 Dec 1964	Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1964–1967. Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1967–1968. Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1968–1969. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1969–1973.	9	1938 (USMA)	26	(1915–1983) Father of Air Force four-star general Michael E. Ryan.
40	William H. Blanchard	19 Feb 1965	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1965–1966.	1	1938 (USMA)	27	(1916–1966) Died in office.
41	Kenneth B. Hobson	31 Jul 1965	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1965–1967.	2	1932 (USMA)	33	(1908–1979)
42	Bruce K. Holloway	1 Aug 1965	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1965–1966. Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1966–1968. Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1968–1972.	7	1937 (USMA)	28	(1912–1999)
43	William S. Stone	28 Jul 1966	Air Deputy to Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (Air Deputy SHAPE), 1966–1968.	2	1934 (USMA)	32	(1910–1968) Died in office. Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1959–1962.
44	Raymond J. Reeves	29 Jul 1966	Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD), 1966–1969.	3	1934 (USMA)	32	(1909–1998)
45	James Ferguson	30 Jul 1966	Commander, Air Force Systems Command (COMAFSC), 1966–1970.	4	1937 (cadet)	29	(1913–2000)
46	David A. Burchinal	31 Jul 1966	Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1966–1973.	7	1940 (cadet)	26	(1915–1990)
47	Maurice A. Preston	1 Aug 1966	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1966–1968.	2	1937 (USMA)	29	(1912–1983)
48	Joseph J. Nazzaro	1 Feb 1967	Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1967–1968. Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1968–1971.	4	1936 (USMA)	31	(1913–1990)
49	Thomas P. Gerrity	1 Aug 1967	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1967–1968.	1	1940 (cadet)	27	(1913–1968) Died in office.
50	William W. Momyer	13 Dec 1967	Commander, Seventh Air Force, 1966–1968. Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC), 1968–1973.	6	1939 (cadet)	28	(1916–2012)
51	Jack G. Merrell	29 Mar 1968	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1968–1972.	4	1939 (USMA)	29	(1915–1993)
52	Horace M. Wade	31 Jul 1968	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1968–1969. Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE), 1969–1972. Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1972–1973.	5	1938 (cadet)	30	(1916–2001)
53	George S. Brown	1 Aug 1968	Commander, Seventh Air Force, 1968–1970. Commander, Air Force Systems Command (COMAFSC), 1970–1973. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1973–1974. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 1974–1978.	10	1941 (USMA)	27	(1918–1978)
54	Joseph R. Holzapple	1 Feb 1969	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1969–1971.	2	1941 (cadet)	28	(1914–1973)
55	Seth J. McKee	30 Jul 1969	Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD), 1969–1973. Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command/Commander, Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD/COMADC), 1973.	4	1939 (cadet)	30	(1916–2016)
56	John C. Meyer	31 Jul 1969	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1969–1972. Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1972–1974.	5	1940 (cadet)	29	(1919–1975)
57	Jack J. Catton	1 Aug 1969	Commander, Military Airlift Command (COMAC), 1969–1972. Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1972–1974.	5	1941 (cadet)	28	(1920–1990)
58	Lucius D. Clay, Jr.	1 Sep 1970	Commander, Seventh Air Force, 1970–1971. Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1971–1973. Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command/Commander, Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD/COMADC), 1973–1975. Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD/CINCAD), 1975.	5	1942 (USMA)	28	(1919–1994) Son of Army four-star general Lucius D. Clay; grandson of U.S. Senator Alexander S. Clay.
59	Theodore R. Milton	31 Jul 1971	U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1971–1974.	3	1940 (USMA)	31	(1915–2010)
60	John D. Lavelle	1 Aug 1971	Commander, Seventh Air Force, 1971–1972.	1	1940 (cadet)	31	(1916–1979)^[11] Relieved, 1972.
61	David C. Jones	1 Sep 1971	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1971–1974. Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1974. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1974–1978. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 1978–1982.	11	1943 (cadet)	28	(1921–2013)
62	John W. Vogt, Jr.	7 Apr 1972	Commander, Seventh Air Force, 1972–1973. Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1973–1974. Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1974–1975.	3	1942 (cadet)	30	(1920–2010)
63	Russell E. Dougherty	1 May 1972	Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE), 1972–1974. Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1974–1977.	5	1943 (cadet)	29	(1920–2007) Father-in-law of Air Force four-star general Joseph W. Ralston.
*	George B. Simler	16 Aug 1972	(posthumous)	0	1942 (cadet)	30	(1921–1972)^[12]
64	Paul K. Carlton	9 Oct 1972	Commander, Military Airlift Command (COMAC), 1972–1977. Commander in Chief, Military Airlift Command (CINCMAC), 1977.	5	1942 (cadet)	30	(1921–2009)
65	George J. Eade	18 Apr 1973	Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1973–1975.	2	1942 (cadet)	31	(1921–2018)
66	Samuel C. Phillips	1 Aug 1973	Commander, Air Force Systems Command (COMAFSC), 1973–1975.	2	1942 (ROTC)	31	(1921–1990) Director, National Security Agency, 1972–1973.
67	Richard H. Ellis	30 Sep 1973	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1973–1975. Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1975–1977. Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1977–1981.	8	1942 (cadet)	31	(1919–1989) U.S. Commissioner for the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Standing Consultative Commission, 1982–1989.
68	Robert J. Dixon	1 Oct 1973	Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC), 1973–1978.	5	1942 (RCAF)	31	(1920–2003)^[13]
69	Timothy F. O'Keefe	8 Oct 1973	Commander, Seventh Air Force, 1973–1974.	1	1940 (cadet)	33	(1919–1984)
70	Louis L. Wilson Jr.	1 Jul 1974	Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1974–1977.	3	1943 (USMA)	31	(1919–2010)
71	Louis T. Seith	1 Aug 1974	Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE), 1974–1977.	3	1943 (USMA)	31	(1921–2007)
72	William V. McBride	1 Sep 1974	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1974–1975. Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1975–1978.	4	1942 (cadet)	32	(born 1922)
73	William J. Evans	30 Aug 1975	Commander, Air Force Systems Command (COMAFSC), 1975–1977. Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1977–1978.	3	1946 (USMA)	29	(1924–2000)
74	F. Michael Rogers	1 Sep 1975	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1975–1978.	3	1943 (cadet)	32	(1921–2014)
75	Daniel James, Jr.	1 Sep 1975	Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCAD), 1975–1977.	2	1943 (cadet)	32	(1920–1978) First African-American to achieve four-star rank in any service.
76	Robert E. Huyser	1 Sep 1975	Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1975–1979. Commander in Chief, Military Airlift Command (CINCMAC), 1979–1981.	6	1944 (cadet)	31	(1924–1997) U.S. Special Envoy to Iran, 1979.
77	John W. Roberts	29 Mar 1977	Commander, Air Training Command (COMATC), 1975–1979.	2	1944 (cadet)	33	(1921–1999)
78	William G. Moore Jr.	1 Apr 1977	Commander in Chief, Military Airlift Command (CINCMAC), 1977–1979.	2	1941 (cadet)	36	(1920–2012)
79	Lew Allen	31 Jul 1977	Commander, Air Force Systems Command (COMAFSC), 1977–1978. Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1978. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1978–1982.	5	1946 (USMA)	31	(1925–2010) Director, National Security Agency, 1973–1977; Director, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1982–1990.
80	James R. Allen	1 Aug 1977	Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE), 1977–1979. Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1979–1981. Commander in Chief, Military Airlift Command (CINCMAC), 1981–1983.	6	1948 (USMA)	29	(1925–1992) Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1974–1977.
81	James E. Hill	21 Dec 1977	Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCAD), 1977–1979. Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD), 1979.	2	1943 (cadet)	34	(1921–1999)
82	Bryce Poe II	2 Feb 1978	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1978–1981.	3	1946 (USMA)	32	(1924–2000)
83	Alton D. Slay	1 Apr 1978	Commander, Air Force Systems Command (COMAFSC), 1978–1981.	3	1944 (cadet)	34	(1924–2015)
84	Wilbur L. Creech	1 May 1978	Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC), 1978–1984.	6	1949 (cadet)	29	(1927–2003)
85	James A. Hill	10 Jul 1978	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1978–1980.	2	1944 (cadet)	34	(1923–2010)
86	John W. Pauly	1 Aug 1978	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1978–1980.	2	1945 (USMA)	33	(1923–2013)
87	Bennie L. Davis	1 Apr 1979	Commander, Air Training Command (COMATC), 1979–1981. Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1981–1985.	6	1950 (USMA)	29	(1928–2012)
88	William Y. Smith	1 Jul 1979	Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE), 1979–1981. Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1981–1983.	4	1948 (USMA)	31	(1925–2016)
89	Robert C. Mathis	1 Mar 1980	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1980–1982.	2	1948 (USMA)	32	(1927–2016)
90	Richard L. Lawson	1 Jul 1980	U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1980–1981. Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE), 1981–1983. Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1983–1986.	6	1951 (ARNG)	29	(1929–2020)^[14]
91	Charles A. Gabriel	1 Aug 1980	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1980–1982. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1982–1986.	6	1950 (USMA)	30	(1928–2003)
92	Robert T. Marsh	1 Feb 1981	Commander, Air Force Systems Command (COMAFSC), 1981–1984.	3	1949 (USMA)	32	(1925–2017)
93	Thomas M. Ryan, Jr.	31 Jul 1981	Commander, Air Training Command (COMATC), 1981–1983. Commander in Chief, Military Airlift Command (CINCMAC), 1983–1985.	4	1950 (cadet)	31	(born 1928)
94	James P. Mullins	1 Aug 1981	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1981–1984.	3	1949 (cadet)	32	(born 1928)
95	James V. Hartinger	1 Oct 1981	Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD), 1980–1981. Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD), 1981–1982. Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command (CINCNORAD/COMAFSPC), 1982–1984.	3	1949 (USMA)	32	(1925–2000)
96	Jerome F. O'Malley	1 Jun 1982	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1982–1983. Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1983–1984. Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC), 1984–1985.	3	1953 (USMA)	29	(1932–1985) Died in office.
97	Billy M. Minter	1 Jul 1982	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1982–1984.	2	1949 (cadet)	33	(1926–2005)
98	Andrew P. Iosue	1 Jul 1983	Commander, Air Training Command (COMATC), 1983–1986.	3	1951 (AFROTC)	32	(born 1927)
99	James E. Dalton	1 Aug 1983	Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE), 1983–1985.	2	1954 (USMA)	29	(born 1930)
100	Lawrence A. Skantze	6 Oct 1983	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1983–1984. Commander, Air Force Systems Command (COMAFSC), 1984–1987.	4	1952 (USNA)	31	(1928–2018)
101	Larry D. Welch	1 Aug 1984	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1984–1985. Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1985–1986. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1986–1990.	6	1953 (cadet)	31	(born 1934) President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 1990–2003, 2006–present.
102	Robert T. Herres	1 Aug 1984	Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command (CINCNORAD/COMAFSPC), 1984–1985. Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE/COMAFSPC), 1985–1986. Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE), 1986–1987. Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS), 1987–1990.	6	1954 (USNA)	30	(1932–2008)
103	Robert W. Bazley	1 Nov 1984	Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1984–1986.	2	1945 (cadet)	29	(1925–2012)
104	Charles L. Donnelly, Jr.	1 Nov 1984	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1984–1987.	3	1952 (cadet)	32	(1929–1994)
105	Earl T. O'Loughlin	1 Nov 1984	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1984–1987.	3	1952 (cadet)	32	(born 1930)
*	James Doolittle	4 Apr 1985	(retired)	0	1918 (cadet)	67	(1896–1993)^[15] Awarded Medal of Honor, 1942; Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1989. First Air Force reservist to attain rank of general.
*	Ira C. Eaker	26 Apr 1985	(retired)	0	1917 (direct)	68	(1896–1987)^[16] Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 1978.
106	Robert D. Russ	22 May 1985	Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC), 1985–1991.	6	1955 (AFROTC)	30	(1933–1997)
107	John T. Chain, Jr.	1 Jul 1985	Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE), 1985–1986. Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1986–1991.	6	1956 (AFROTC)	29	(born 1934) U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Politico-Military Affairs, 1984–1985.
108	John L. Piotrowski	1 Aug 1985	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1985–1987. Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE), 1987–1990.	5	1954 (cadet)	31	(born 1934)
109	Duane H. Cassidy	8 Nov 1985	Commander in Chief, Military Airlift Command (CINCMAC), 1985–1987. Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command/Commander in Chief, Military Airlift Command (USCINCTRANS/CINCMAC), 1987–1989.	4	1954 (cadet)	31	(1933–2016)
110	Robert H. Reed	1 Jul 1986	Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE), 1986–1988.	2	1953 (cadet)	33	(1929–2017)
111	Thomas C. Richards	1 Dec 1986	Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1986–1989.	3	1956 (VPI)	30	(1930–2020) Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, 1992–1993.
112	Jack I. Gregory	1 Jan 1987	Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1986–1988.	1	1953 (AFROTC)	34	(born 1931)
113	Monroe W. Hatch Jr.	29 Jan 1987	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1987–1990.	3	1951 (USNA)	36	(born 1933)
114	William L. Kirk	1 May 1987	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1987–1989.	2	1954 (cadet)	33	(1932–2017)
115	Bernard P. Randolph	1 Aug 1987	Commander, Air Force Systems Command (COMAFSC), 1987–1990.	3	1956 (cadet)	31	(1933–2021)
116	Alfred G. Hansen	1 Aug 1987	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1987–1989.	2	1955 (cadet)	32	(born 1933)
117	John A. Shaud	1 Jul 1988	Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE), 1988–1991.	3	1956 (USMA)	32	(born 1933)
118	Merrill McPeak	1 Aug 1988	Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1988–1990. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1990–1994.	6	1957 (AFROTC)	31	(born 1936)
119	Michael J. Dugan	1 May 1989	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1989–1990. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1990. Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force,^[17] 1990–1991.	2	1958 (USMA)	31	(born 1937) Relieved as chief of staff, 1990.
120	James P. McCarthy	1 Oct 1989	Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1989–1992.	3	1957 (AFROTC)	32	(born 1935)
121	Hansford T. Johnson	1 Oct 1989	Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command/Commander in Chief, Military Airlift Command (USCINCTRANS/CINCMAC), 1989–1992. Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command/Commander, Air Mobility Command (USCINCTRANS/COMAMC), 1992.	3	1959 (USAFA)	30	(born 1936) U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment, 2002–2005.
122	Charles C. McDonald	1 Nov 1989	Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC), 1989–1992.	3	1956 (AFROTC)	33	(1933–2017)
123	Donald J. Kutyna	1 Apr 1990	Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE), 1990–1992. Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE/COMAFSPC), 1992.	2	1957 (USMA)	33	(born 1933)
124	Ronald W. Yates	1 Apr 1990	Commander, Air Force Systems Command (COMAFSC), 1990–1992. Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC), 1992–1995.	5	1960 (USAFA)	30	(born 1938)
125	John M. Loh	1 Jun 1990	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1990–1991. Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC), 1991–1992. Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 1992–1995.	5	1960 (USAFA)	30	(born 1938)
126	Robert C. Oaks	1 Jul 1990	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1990–1993. Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAIRCENT), 1993–1994.	4	1959 (USAFA)	31	(born 1936)
127	George Lee Butler	25 Jan 1991	Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1991–1992. Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command (USCINCSTRAT), 1992–1994.	3	1961 (USAFA)	30	(born 1939)
128	Jimmie V. Adams	13 Feb 1991	Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1991–1993.	2	1958 (AFROTC)	33	(born 1936)
129	Michael P. C. Carns	16 May 1991	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1991–1994.	3	1959 (USAFA)	32	(born 1937)^[18]
130	James B. Davis	24 Jul 1991	Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE), 1991–1993.	2	1958 (USNA)	33	(born 1935)
131	Chuck Horner	1 Jul 1992	Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE/COMAFSPC), 1992–1994.	2	1958 (AFROTC)	34	(born 1936)
132	Ronald Fogleman	1 Sep 1992	Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command/Commander, Air Mobility Command (USCINCTRANS/COMAMC), 1992–1994. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1994–1997.	5	1963 (USAFA)	29	(born 1942)
133	Charles G. Boyd	1 Dec 1992	Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1992–1995.	3	1960 (cadet)	32	(born 1938)
134	Henry Viccellio Jr.	1 Dec 1992	Commander, Air Training Command (COMATC), 1992–1993. Commander, Air Education and Training Command (COMAETC), 1993–1995. Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC), 1995–1997.	5	1963 (USAFA)	29	(born 1940)
135	Robert L. Rutherford	1 Feb 1993	Commander, Pacific Air Forces (COMPACAF), 1993–1994. Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command/Commander, Air Mobility Command (USCINCTRANS/COMAMC), 1994–1996.	3	1961 (AFROTC)	32	(1938–2013)
136	Thomas S. Moorman, Jr.	1 Aug 1994	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1994–1997.	3	1962 (AFROTC)	32	(1940–2020)
137	James L. Jamerson	1 Sep 1994	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAIRCENT), 1994–1995. Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1995–1998.	4	1963 (USAFA)	31	(born 1941)
138	Joseph W. Ashy	13 Sep 1994	Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE/COMAFSPC), 1994–1996.	2	1962 (Texas A&M)	32	(born 1940)
139	John G. Lorber	12 Oct 1994	Commander, Pacific Air Forces (COMPACAF), 1994–1997.	3	1964 (USAFA)	30	(born 1941)
140	Billy J. Boles	1 Jul 1995	Commander, Air Education and Training Command (COMAETC), 1995–1997.	2	1962 (AFROTC)	33	(born 1938)
141	Joseph Ralston	1 Jul 1995	Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 1995–1996. Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS), 1996–2000. Supreme Allied Commander, Europe/Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (SACEUR/USCINCEUR), 2000–2003.	8	1965 (AFROTC)	30	(born 1943) U.S. Special Envoy for Countering the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), 2006–present. Son-in-law of Air Force four-star general Russell E. Dougherty.
142	Richard E. Hawley	1 Aug 1995	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAIRCENT), 1995–1996. Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 1996–1999.	4	1964 (USAFA)	31	(born 1942)
143	Eugene E. Habiger	1 Mar 1996	Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command (USCINCSTRAT), 1996–1998.	2	1963 (OTS)	33	(born 1939) Director of Security and Emergency Operations, U.S. Department of Energy, 1999–2001.
144	Michael E. Ryan	4 Apr 1996	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAIRCENT), 1996–1997. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1997–2001.	5	1965 (USAFA)	31	(born 1941) Son of Air Force four-star general John D. Ryan.
145	Walter Kross	1 Aug 1996	Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command/Commander, Air Mobility Command (USCINCTRANS/COMAMC), 1996–1998.	2	1964 (OTS)	32	(born 1942)
146	Howell M. Estes III	1 Oct 1996	Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE/COMAFSPC), 1996–1998.	2	1965 (USAFA)	31	(born 1941) Son of Air Force four-star general Howell M. Estes Jr.
147	Lloyd W. Newton	1 Apr 1997	Commander, Air Education and Training Command (COMAETC), 1997–2000.	3	1966 (AFROTC)	31	(born 1942)
148	George T. Babbitt, Jr.	1 Jun 1997	Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC), 1997–2000.	3	1965 (AFROTC)	32	(born 1942) Director, Defense Logistics Agency, 1996–1997.
149	Ralph Eberhart	1 Aug 1997	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1997–1999. Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 1999–2000. Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE/COMAFSPC), 2000–2002. Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Northern Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCNORTH), 2002. Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander, U.S. Northern Command (CDRNORAD/CDRUSNORTHCOM), 2002–2004.	7	1968 (USAFA)	29	(born 1946)
150	Richard Myers	1 Sep 1997	Commander, Pacific Air Forces (COMPACAF), 1997–1998. Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE/COMAFSPC), 1998–2000. Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS), 2000–2001. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 2001–2005.	8	1965 (AFROTC)	32	(born 1942) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2005.
151	John A. Gordon	31 Oct 1997	Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI), 1997–2000.	3	1968 (AFROTC)	29	(1946–2020) U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, 1993–1994; U.S. Undersecretary of Energy for Nuclear Security, 2000–2002; Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism, 2002–2003; Homeland Security Advisor, 2003–2004.
152	John P. Jumper	17 Nov 1997	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAIRCENT), 1997–2000. Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 2000–2001. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 2001–2005.	8	1966 (VMI)	31	(born 1945)
153	Charles T. Robertson, Jr.	1 Sep 1998	Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command/Commander, Air Mobility Command (USCINCTRANS/COMAMC), 1998–2001.	3	1968 (USAFA)	30	(born 1946)
154	Patrick K. Gamble	1 Oct 1998	Commander, Pacific Air Forces (COMPACAF), 1998–2001.	3	1967 (Texas A&M)	31	(born 1945) President, University of Alaska System, 2010–2015.^[19]
*	Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.	9 Dec 1998	(retired)	0	1936 (USMA)	62	(1912–2002)^[20] Director of Aviation Security, 1970–1971; U.S. Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Safety and Consumer Affairs, 1971–1975.
155	Lester Lyles	1 Jul 1999	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 1999–2000. Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC), 2000–2003.	4	1968 (AFROTC)	31	(born 1946) Director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, 1996–1999.
156	Gregory S. Martin	1 Jun 2000	Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Northern Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAIRNORTH), 2000–2002. Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Northern Europe (COMUSAFE/COMAIRNORTH), 2002–2003. Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC), 2003–2005.	5	1970 (USAFA)	30	(born 1948)^[21]
157	John W. Handy	1 Jul 2000	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2000–2001. Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command/Commander, Air Mobility Command (USCINCTRANS/COMAMC), 2001–2002. Commander, U.S. Transportation Command/Commander, Air Mobility Command (CDRUSTRANSCOM/COMAMC), 2002–2005.	5	1967 (OTS)	33	(born 1944)
158	Hal M. Hornburg	1 Aug 2000	Commander, Air Education and Training Command (COMAETC), 2000–2001. Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 2001–2004.	4	1968 (Texas A&M)	32	(born 1945)
159	Charles R. Holland	1 Dec 2000	Commander in Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command (USCINCSOC), 2000–2002. Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (CDRUSSOCOM), 2002–2003.	3	1968 (USAFA)	32	(born 1946)
160	William J. Begert	1 May 2001	Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Air Component Commander for the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (COMPACAF/AIRCINCUSPACCOM), 2001–2002. Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Air Component Commander for the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (COMPACAF/AIRCDRUSPACCOM), 2002–2004.	3	1968 (USAFA)	33	(born 1946)
161	Robert H. Foglesong	5 Nov 2001	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2001–2003. Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Northern Europe (COMUSAFE/COMAIRNORTH), 2003–2004. Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (COMUSAFE), 2004–2005.	4	1972 (AFROTC)	29	(born 1945) President, Mississippi State University, 2006–2008.
162	Donald G. Cook	17 Dec 2001	Commander, Air Education and Training Command (COMAETC), 2001–2005.	4	1969 (AFROTC)	32	(born 1946)
163	Lance W. Lord	19 Apr 2002	Commander, Air Force Space Command (COMAFSPC), 2002–2006.	4	1968 (AFROTC)	34	(born 1946)
164	Charles F. Wald	1 Jan 2003	Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 2002–2006.	4	1971 (AFROTC)	32	(born 1948)
165	T. Michael Moseley	1 Oct 2003	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2003–2005. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 2005–2008.	5	1971 (Texas A&M)	32	(born 1949) Resigned, 2008.
166	Paul V. Hester	1 Aug 2004	Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Air Component Commander for the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (COMPACAF/AIRCDRUSPACCOM), 2004–2007.	3	1971 (AFROTC)	33	(born 1947)
167	Michael V. Hayden	21 Apr 2005	Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI), 2005–2006. Director, Central Intelligence Agency (DCIA), 2006–2009.^[22]	4	1969 (AFROTC)	36	(born 1945)^[23] Director, National Security Agency, 1999–2005.
168	Ronald Keys	27 May 2005	Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 2005–2007.	2	1967 (AFROTC)	38	(born 1945)
169	William R. Looney III	1 Aug 2005	Commander, Air Education and Training Command (COMAETC), 2005–2008.	3	1972 (USAFA)	33	(born 1949)
170	Bruce A. Carlson	1 Sep 2005	Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC), 2005–2008.	3	1971 (AFROTC)	34	(born 1949) Director, National Reconnaissance Office, 2009–2012.
171	Norton A. Schwartz	1 Oct 2005	Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (CDRUSTRANSCOM), 2005–2008. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 2008–2012.	7	1973 (USAFA)	32	(born 1951)
172	John D. W. Corley	1 Nov 2005	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2005–2007. Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 2007–2009.	4	1973 (USAFA)	32	(born 1951)
173	Lance L. Smith	7 Nov 2005	Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation/Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command (SACT/CDRUSJFCOM), 2005–2007.	2	1970 (OTS)	35	(born 1946)
174	Duncan McNabb	1 Dec 2005	Commander, Air Mobility Command (COMAMC), 2005–2007. Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2007–2008. Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (CDRUSTRANSCOM), 2008–2011.	6	1974 (USAFA)	31	(born 1952)
175	William T. Hobbins	1 Feb 2006	Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Air Component Command, Ramstein/Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center (COMUSAFE/COMAIR-COM Ramstein/DIRJAPCC), 2005–2007.	1	1969 (OTS)	37	(born 1946)
176	Kevin P. Chilton	26 Jun 2006	Commander, Air Force Space Command (COMAFSPC), 2006–2007. Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2007–2011.	5	1976 (USAFA)	30	(born 1954) First astronaut to attain rank of general.
177	Victor E. Renuart, Jr.	23 Mar 2007	Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander, U.S. Northern Command (CDRNORAD/CDRUSNORTHCOM), 2007–2010.	3	1972 (OTS)	35	(born 1949)
178	Arthur Lichte	7 Sep 2007	Commander, Air Mobility Command (COMAMC), 2007–2009.	2	1971 (AFROTC)	36	(born 1949)
179	C. Robert Kehler	12 Oct 2007	Commander, Air Force Space Command (COMAFSPC), 2007–2011. Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2011–2013.	6	1975 (AFROTC)	32	(born 1952)
180	Carrol Chandler	30 Nov 2007	Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command/Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (COMPACAF/AIRCDRUSPACCOM/EXDIRPACOPS), 2007–2009. Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2009–2011.	4	1974 (USAFA)	33	(born 1952)
181	Roger A. Brady	9 Jan 2008	Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Air Component Command, Ramstein/Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center (COMUSAFE/COMAIR-COM Ramstein/DIRJAPCC), 2008–2010.	2	1968 (AFROTC)	40	(born 1946)
182	Stephen R. Lorenz	2 Jul 2008	Commander, Air Education and Training Command (COMAETC), 2008–2010.	2	1973 (USAFA)	35	(born 1951)
183	William M. Fraser III	9 Oct 2008	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2008–2009. Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 2009–2011. Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (CDRUSTRANSCOM), 2011–2014.	6	1974 (Texas A&M)	34	(born 1952)^[24]
184	Craig R. McKinley	17 Nov 2008	Chief, National Guard Bureau (CNGB), 2008–2012.	4	1974 (AFROTC)	34	(born 1952) First National Guard officer to achieve the rank of general.
185	Donald J. Hoffman	21 Nov 2008	Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC), 2008–2012.	4	1974 (USAFA)	34	(born 1952)
186	Douglas M. Fraser	25 Jun 2009	Commander, U.S. Southern Command (CDRUSSOUTHCOM), 2009–2012.	3	1975 (USAFA)	34	(born 1953)
187	Gary L. North	19 Aug 2009	Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command/Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (COMPACAF/AIRCDRUSPACCOM/EXDIRPACOPS), 2009–2012.	3	1976 (AFROTC)	33	(born 1954)
188	Raymond E. Johns, Jr.	20 Nov 2009	Commander, Air Mobility Command (COMAMC), 2009–2012.	3	1977 (USAFA)	32	(born 1954)
189	Edward A. Rice Jr.	17 Nov 2010	Commander, Air Education and Training Command (COMAETC), 2010–2013.	3	1978 (USAFA)	32	(born 1956)
190	Mark A. Welsh III	13 Dec 2010	Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Air Component Command, Ramstein/Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center (COMUSAFE/COMAIR-COM Ramstein/DIRJAPCC), 2010–2012. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 2012–2016.	6	1976 (USAFA)	34	(born 1953)
191	William L. Shelton	5 Jan 2011	Commander, Air Force Space Command (COMAFSPC), 2011–2014.	3	1976 (USAFA)	35	(born 1954)
192	Philip M. Breedlove	14 Jan 2011	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2011–2012. Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, U.S. Air Forces Africa/Commander, Air Component Command, Ramstein/Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center (COMUSAFE/COMAFAFRICA/COMAIR-COM Ramstein/DIRJAPCC), 2012–2013. Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, U.S. Air Forces Africa/Commander, Allied Air Command/Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center (COMUSAFE/COMAFAFRICA/AIRCOM/DIRJAPCC), 2013. Commander, U.S. European Command/Supreme Allied Commander Europe (CDRUSEUCOM/SACEUR), 2013–2016.	5	1977 (AFROTC)	34	(born 1955)
193	Gilmary M. Hostage III	13 Sep 2011	Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 2011–2014.	3	1977 (AFROTC)	34	(born 1955)
194	Janet C. Wolfenbarger	5 Jun 2012	Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC), 2012–2015.	3	1980 (USAFA)	32	(born 1958) First woman to achieve the rank of general in the Air Force.
195	Larry O. Spencer	27 Jul 2012	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2012–2015.	3	1980 (OTS)	32	(born 1954) Served nine years in the enlisted ranks before receiving his commission in 1980.
196	Herbert J. Carlisle	2 Aug 2012	Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command/Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (COMPACAF/AIRCDRUSPACCOM/EXDIRPACOPS), 2012–2014. Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 2014–2017.	5	1978 (USAFA)	34	(born 1957)
197	Paul J. Selva	29 Nov 2012	Commander, Air Mobility Command (COMAMC), 2012–2014. Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (CDRUSTRANSCOM), 2014–2015. Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS), 2015–2019.	7	1980 (USAFA)	32	(born 1958)
198	Frank Gorenc	2 Aug 2013	Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, U.S. Air Forces Africa/Commander, Allied Air Command/Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center (COMUSAFE/COMAFAFRICA/AIRCOM/DIRJAPCC), 2013–2016.	3	1979 (USAFA)	34	(born 1957)
199	Robin Rand	10 Oct 2013	Commander, Air Education and Training Command (COMAETC), 2013–2015. Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command (COMAFGSC), 2015–2017. Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command/Commander, Air Forces Strategic- Air, U.S. Strategic Command (COMAFGSC/COMAFSTRATAIR), 2017–2018.	5	1979 (USAFA)	34	(born 1958)
200	Darren W. McDew	5 May 2014	Commander, Air Mobility Command (COMAMC), 2014–2015. Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (CDRUSTRANSCOM), 2015–2018.	4	1982 (VMI)	32	(born 1960)
201	John E. Hyten	15 Aug 2014	Commander, Air Force Space Command (COMAFSPC), 2014–2016. Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2016–2019. Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2019–present.	6	1981 (AFROTC)	33	(born 1959)
202	Lori J. Robinson	16 Oct 2014	Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command/Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (COMPACAF/AIRCDRUSPACCOM/EXDIRPACOPS), 2014–2016. Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander, U.S. Northern Command (CDRNORAD/CDRUSNORTHCOM), 2016–2018.	4	1981 (AFROTC)	33	(born 1959) First woman in any service to lead a unified combatant command.
203	Ellen M. Pawlikowski	8 Jun 2015	Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC), 2015–2018.	3	1978 (AFROTC)	37	(born 1956)
204	Carlton D. Everhart II	11 Aug 2015	Commander, Air Mobility Command (COMAMC), 2015–2018.	3	1983 (Virginia Tech)	32	(born 1961)
205	David L. Goldfein	17 Aug 2015	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2015–2016. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 2016–2020.	5	1983 (USAFA)	32	(born 1959)
206	Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy	12 Jul 2016	Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command/Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (COMPACAF/AIRCDRUSPACCOM/EXDIRPACOPS), 2016–2018. Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander, U.S. Northern Command (CDRNORAD/CDRUSNORTHCOM), 2018–2020.	4	1986 (USAFA)	30	(born 1964)
207	Stephen W. Wilson	22 Jul 2016	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2016–2020.	4	1981 (Texas A&M)	35	(born 1959/1960)
208	Joseph L. Lengyel	3 Aug 2016	Chief, National Guard Bureau (CNGB), 2016–2020.	4	1981 (AFROTC)	35	(born 1959)
209	Tod D. Wolters	11 Aug 2016	Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, U.S. Air Forces Africa/Commander, Allied Air Command/Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center (COMUSAFE/COMAFAFRICA/AIRCOM/DIRJAPCC), 2016–2019. Commander, U.S. European Command/Supreme Allied Commander Europe (CDRUSEUCOM/SACEUR), 2019–present.	5	1982 (USAFA)	34	(born c. 1961)
210	John W. Raymond	25 Oct 2016	Commander, Air Force Space Command (COMAFSPC), 2016–2017. Commander, Air Force Space Command/Joint Force Space Component Commander (COMAFSPC/JFSCC), 2017–2019. Commander, U.S. Space Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command (CDRUSSPACECOM/COMAFSPC), 2019.	3	1984 (AFROTC)	32	(born 1962)^[25] Chief of Space Operations 2019–present.
211	James M. Holmes	10 Mar 2017	Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 2017–2020.	3	1981 (OTS)	36	(born 1957)
212	Charles Q. Brown Jr.	26 Jul 2018	Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Air Component Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command/Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (COMPACAF/AIRCDRUSINDOPACCOM/EXDIRPACOPS), 2018–2020. Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 2020–present.	3	1985 (AFROTC)	33	(born 1962)
213	Timothy M. Ray	21 Aug 2018	Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command/Commander, Air Forces Strategic- Air, U.S. Strategic Command (COMAFGSC/COMAFSTRATAIR), 2018–2021.	3	1985 (USAFA)	33	(born 1963)
214	Maryanne Miller	7 Sep 2018	Commander, Air Mobility Command (COMAMC), 2018–2020.	2	1981 (AFROTC)	37	(born 1961) First Air Force Reserve officer to achieve the rank of general.
215	Jeffrey L. Harrigian	1 May 2019	Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, U.S. Air Forces Africa/Commander, Allied Air Command/Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center (COMUSAFE/COMAFAFRICA/AIRCOM/DIRJAPCC), 2019. Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa/Commander, Allied Air Command/Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center (COMUSAFE/COMAFAFRICA/AIRCOM/DIRJAPCC), 2019–present.	2	1985 (USAFA)	34	(born c. 1962)
216	Arnold W. Bunch Jr.	31 May 2019	Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC), 2019–present.	2	1984 (USAFA)	35	(born c. 1962)
217	Kenneth S. Wilsbach	8 Jul 2020	Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Air Component Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command/Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (COMPACAF/AIRCDRUSINDOPACCOM/EXDIRPACOPS), 2020–present.	1	1985 (AFROTC)	35	(born c. 1963)
218	Glen D. VanHerck	20 Aug 2020	Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander, U.S. Northern Command (CDRNORAD/CDRUSNORTHCOM), 2020–present.	1	1987 (AFROTC)	33	(born 1962)
219	Jacqueline Van Ovost	20 Aug 2020	Commander, Air Mobility Command (COMAMC), 2020–present.	1	1988 (USAFA)	32	(born 1965)
220	Mark D. Kelly	28 Aug 2020	Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 2020–present.	1	1986 (AFROTC)	34	(born c. 1962)
221	David W. Allvin	12 Nov 2020^[26]	Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), 2020–present.	1	1986 (USAFA)	34	(born c. 1963)
222	Anthony J. Cotton	27 Aug 2021	Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command/Commander, Air Forces Strategic- Air, U.S. Strategic Command (COMAFGSC/COMAFSTRATAIR), 2021–present.	0	1986 (AFROTC)	35	-

Timeline[]

Four-star positions[]

1940 – present[]

President Ronald Reagan and Senator Barry Goldwater pin Gen. Jimmy Doolittle with his fourth star on April 10, 1985.

The modern rank of general was established by the Officer Personnel Act of 1947, which authorized the President to designate certain positions of importance to carry that rank. Officers appointed to such positions bear temporary four-star rank while so serving, and are allowed to retire at that rank if their performance is judged satisfactory.^[27] The total number of active-duty four-star generals in the Air Force is limited to a fixed percentage of the number of Air Force general officers serving at all ranks.^[28]

Within the Air Force, the chief of staff (CSAF) and vice chief of staff (VCSAF) are four-star generals by statute. Other four-star generals occupy positions of designated importance; historically, these have included the commanders responsible for strategic bombers and nuclear missiles (SAC/STRATCOM); tactical air combat (TAC/ACC); air transport (MAC/TRANSCOM); North American aerospace defense (NORAD); the Air Force formations in Europe and the Pacific; and other training, readiness, and materiel organizations.

The Air Force also competes with the other services for a number of joint four-star positions, such as the chairman (CJCS) and vice chairman (VJCS) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other joint four-star positions have included unified combatant commanders and certain NATO staff positions.

References[]

^ Dates of rank are taken, where available, from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force registers of active and retired commissioned officers, or from the World Almanac and Book of Facts. The date listed is that of the officer's first promotion to general.
^ Positions listed are those held by the officer when promoted to general. Dates listed are for the officer's full tenure, which may predate promotion to four-star rank or postdate retirement from active duty.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b The number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank is approximated by subtracting the year in the "Date of rank" column from the last year in the "Position" column. For those presently in their position, values are as of 2020. Time spent between active-duty four-star assignments is not counted, nor is time spent on special duty as an unassigned general of the Army or general of the Air Force.
^ Sources of commission are listed in parentheses after the year of commission and include: the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA); the United States Military Academy (USMA); the United States Naval Academy (USNA); Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at a civilian university; Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at a civilian university; ROTC or AFROTC at a senior military college such as Texas A&M University (Texas A&M), the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), or Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI); Air Force Officer Training School (OTS); Officer Candidate School (OCS); the aviation cadet program (cadet); the Army National Guard (ARNG); the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF); and direct commission (direct).
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b The number of years in commission before being promoted to four-star rank is approximated by subtracting the year in the "Commission" column from the year in the "Date of rank" column.
^ Notes include years of birth and death; awards of the Medal of Honor, Congressional Gold Medal, Presidential Medal of Freedom, or honors of similar significance; major government appointments; university presidencies or equivalents; familial relationships with other four-star officers or significant government officials such as U.S. Presidents, cabinet secretaries, U.S. Senators, or state governors; and unusual career events such as premature relief or death in office.
^ Served in this position while in the United States Army.
^ Nomination as chairman, Civil Aeronautics Board withdrawn, 1948.
^ Retired as general, 31 July 1961; recalled as general, Sep 1961; retired as general, 30 April 1965.
^ "Congressional Record" (PDF). 11 July 1958. p. 13456. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
^ Relieved, Apr 1972, and retired as major general.
^ Appointed Commander, Military Airlift Command (COMAC), effective 12 September 1972; died in air crash, 9 Sep 1972; posthumously promoted to general with date of rank 16 August 1972.
^ Transferred from Royal Canadian Air Force, 1943.
^ Transferred from Army National Guard, 1952.
^ Transferred from , 1920; resigned, 1930; recalled 1940; reverted to inactive reserve, 1946; retired as lieutenant general, Feb 1959; advanced to general on the retired list, 4 April 1985.
^ Retired as major general, Aug 1947; advanced to lieutenant general on the retired list, 29 June 1948; advanced to general on the retired list, 26 April 1985.
^ "Senate panel opposes increase in fired Air Force chief's pension". The Baltimore Sun. 31 October 1990. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
^ Nomination as Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) withdrawn, 1995.
^ "2010- 2015 Patrick K Gamble | UA Journey". University of Alaska. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
^ Retired as lieutenant general, Feb 1970; advanced to general on the retired list, 9 December 1998.
^ Nomination as Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM) withdrawn, 2004.
^ Hayden continued serving as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency as a civilian for a year after retiring from the Air Force in 2008.
^ Retired as general, 1 July 2008; remained Director, Central Intelligence Agency (DCIA) as civilian.
^ First nomination as Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (CDRUSTRANSCOM) withdrawn, 2008.
^ Transferred to U.S. Space Force, 20 December 2019.
^ Allvin's effective date-of-rank is November 12, 2020, which is four days before he assumed the office of vice chief of staff.
^ 10 USC 601, Positions of importance and responsibility: generals and lieutenant generals; admirals and vice admirals
^ 10 USC 525, Distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general officer and flag officer grades

Additional sources[]

Air Force Association (May 2006), "USAF Almanac 2006" (PDF), Air Force Magazine, 89 (5), archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2007

Cole, Ronald H.; Poole, Walter S.; Schnabel, James F.; Watson, Robert J.; Webb, Willard J. (1995), The History of the Unified Command Plan, 1946–1993 (PDF), Washington D.C.: Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2007, retrieved 9 May 2007

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Senior officials in the NATO military structure, from 1949 to 2001 (PDF)

United States Air Force, Air Force Link – Biographies

United States Air Force (1951–1970, 1972, 1974, 1979), Air Force Register, Washington D.C.: Department of the Air Force Check date values in: |year= (help)

World Almanac and Book of Facts, New York: World Almanac Education Group, Inc., 1946–1947, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2006 Check date values in: |year= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)