James C. Slife

James C. Slife
Born	1967 (age 57–58) Michigan, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1989–2025
Rank	General
Commands	Air Force Special Operations Command 1st Special Operations Wing Joint Special Operations Aviation Detachment-Afghanistan 27th Special Operations Group Joint Special Operations Aviation Detachment-Arabian Peninsula 21st Special Operations Squadron
Battles / wars	Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (4) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (2)

James C. Slife (born 1967) is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as the vice chief of staff of the United States Air Force from 19 December 2023 to 21 February 2025. He previously served as the deputy chief of staff for operations of the United States Air Force from December 2022 to December 2023.

He served as the commander of Air Force Special Operations Command from June 2019 to December 2022, having previously served as the vice commander from July 2018 to June 2019 and chief of staff of United States Special Operations Command from June 2017 to June 2018. ^{[1] [2]} Slife was commissioned through the ROTC program at Auburn University in 1989. ^[3]

In September 2023, Slife was nominated for promotion to general and appointment as vice chief of staff of the Air Force. ^[4]

On 21 February 2025, Slife was relieved from his position as vice chief of staff of the Air Force. As of May 2025, a replacement has not been announced.

Awards and decorations

Personal decorations Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters Joint Service Commendation Medal Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force Combat Action Medal Unit awards Joint Meritorious Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters Gallant Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and silver oak leaf cluster Air Force Organizational Excellence Award Service awards Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster Campaign and service medals National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two service stars Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star Kosovo Campaign Medal with service star Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three service stars Iraq Campaign Medal with three service stars Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal with two service stars Humanitarian Service Medal with two service stars Service, training, and marksmanship awards Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and silver oak leaf cluster Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf cluster Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star Air Force Training Ribbon Foreign awards NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with two service stars Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Other accoutrements US Air Force Command Pilot Badge Basic Parachutist Badge Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

Effective dates of promotion

Insignia	Rank	Date
	General	19 December 2023
	Lieutenant general	29 June 2018
	Major general	2 May 2016
	Brigadier general	12 July 2013
	Colonel	1 March 2006
	Lieutenant colonel	1 March 2002
	Major	1 July 1999
	Captain	20 October 1993
	First lieutenant	20 October 1991
	Second lieutenant	9 June 1989

^[5]

References

1. Saphore, Cassandra (9 December 2022). "Bauernfeind new leader of Air Commandos". Air Force Special Operations Command. Hurlburt Field, Florida: AFSOC Public Affairs. Retrieved 11 December 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
2. Date information sourced from Library of Congress Authorities data, via corresponding Library of Congress Linked Data Service :  linked authority record no2005096325 .
3. "Lt. Gen. Jim Slife assumes command at AFSOC". 2 July 2019.
4. "PN933 — Lt. Gen. James C. Slife — Air Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
5. "JAMES C. "JIM" SLIFE". Air Force. Retrieved 8 January 2024.^{[ dead link ]}

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN

Military offices
Preceded by J. Marcus Hicks	Chief of Staff of the United States Special Operations Command 2017–2018	Succeeded by James B. Linder
Preceded by Scott A. Howell	Vice Commander of the United States Special Operations Command 2018–2019	Succeeded by Tony D. Bauernfeind
Preceded by Marshall B. Webb	Commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command 2019–2022
Preceded by Charles S. Corcoran Acting	Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the United States Air Force 2022–2023	Succeeded by Mark H. Slocum Acting
Preceded by David W. Allvin	Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force 2023–2025	Vacant