Arnold W. Bunch Jr.

Last updated
Arnold W. Bunch Jr.
Gen. Arnold W. Bunch, Jr.jpg
Born (1962-04-08) April 8, 1962 (age 60)
Morristown, Tennessee, United States
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1984–2022
Rank General
Commands held Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Test Center
Air Force Security Assistance Center
412th Test Wing
419th Flight Test Squadron
Awards Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (3)

Arnold Webster Bunch Jr. [1] (born April 8, 1962) is a retired United States Air Force four-star general. He last served as the commander of Air Force Materiel Command, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He is responsible for installation and mission support, discovery and development, test and evaluation, life cycle management services and sustainment of virtually every major Air Force weapon system. The command employs approximately 80,000 people and manages $60 billion of budget authority annually. Before his current assignment, he was the military deputy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition at The Pentagon.

Contents

After retirement from active duty on August 1, 2022, Bunch is scheduled to assume office as director of the Hamblen County school system. [2]

Military career

Born in Tennessee, [3] Bunch was commissioned upon graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1984. [4]

Upon completion of Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1985, Bunch completed operational assignments as an instructor, evaluator and aircraft commander for Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. He graduated from the United States Air Force Test Pilot School in 1991. He then conducted developmental testing in the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit and B-52, and served as an instructor in each. Additionally, he has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels and was the commander of the Air Force Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California. [4]

In December 2018, Bunch was nominated by President Donald Trump for promotion to general to assume command of the Air Force Materiel Command, [5] [6] but his nomination was later returned by the Senate without a vote in January 2019. [7] The nomination was resubmitted in April 2019. [8] The Armed Services Committee confirmed Bunch for a fourth star and the post of Commander of Air Force Materiel Command on May 23, and Bunch took over command eight days later.

Education

Assignments

Flight information

Awards and decorations

His major awards and decorations include:

COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Master Acquisition and Financial Management Badge.jpg Air Force Master Acquisition and Financial Management Badge
Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png Headquarters Air Force Badge
Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement ribbon.svg Air Force Achievement Medal
Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg Combat Readiness Medal
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Longevity Service Award USAF.svg Silver oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon.svg Air Force Training Ribbon

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions
InsigniaRankDate
US-O10 insignia.svg General May 31, 2019
US-O9 insignia.svg Lieutenant general June 24, 2015
US-O8 insignia.svg Major general Aug. 23, 2013
US-O7 insignia.svg Brigadier general May 7, 2010
US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel June 1, 2004
US-O5 insignia.svg Lieutenant colonel Sept. 1, 1998
US-O4 insignia.svg Major Dec. 1, 1995
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain May 30, 1988
US-OF1A.svg First lieutenant May 30, 1986
US-OF1B.svg Second lieutenant May 30, 1984


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References

  1. Polaris (PDF). Vol. XXVI. Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1984. p. 30. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  2. Hauptman, Max (April 15, 2022). "4-star general deemed qualified to serve as school administrator after overseeing 80,000 troops". Task & Purpose . Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  3. "From the archives, 2010; Morristown's Bunch becomes Brigadier General". Citizen Tribune. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "GENERAL ARNOLD W. BUNCH JR. > U.S. Air Force > Biography Display". US Air Force. Retrieved 31 May 2019.PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  5. "General Officer Announcement". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  6. "Air Force Magazine". Archived from the original on 2019-02-09. Retrieved 2019-02-09.
  7. "PN2701 – 1 nominee for Air Force, 115th Congress (2017–2018)". Congress.gov. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  8. "PN599 – 1 nominee for Air Force, 116th Congress (2019–2020)". Congress.gov. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of to the Air Force Test Center
2012–2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics
2015–2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Air Force Materiel Command
2019–2022