John D. W. Corley

John D. W. Corley
John D. W. Corley
	General John D.W. Corley
Born	August 11, 1951 (age 73); San Marcos, Texas, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1973–2009
Rank	General
Commands	Air Combat Command; Vice Chief of Staff, USAF; 355th Wing; 33d Operations Group; 8th Fighter Squadron
Awards	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2); Defense Superior Service Medal ; Legion of Merit ; Bronze Star ; Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Last updated November 22, 2024

John Donald Wesley Corley (born August 11, 1951)^[1] is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force. He previously served as the commander of Air Combat Command from October 2007 to September 10, 2009, and as the 32nd Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from September 2005 to September 2007. He retired from the Air Force on November 1, 2009.

Corley was responsible for organizing, training, equipping and maintaining combat-ready forces for rapid deployment and employment while ensuring strategic air defense forces are ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defense. ACC operates more than 1,200 aircraft, 27 wings, 17 bases and more than 200 operating locations worldwide with 105,000 active-duty and civilian personnel. When mobilized, the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve contribute more than 900 aircraft and 56,000 people to Air Combat Command.

As the Combat Air Forces lead agent, ACC develops strategy, doctrine, concepts, tactics and procedures for air and space power employment. The command provides conventional, nuclear and information warfare forces to all unified commands to ensure air, space and information superiority for warfighters and national decision-makers. ACC can also be called upon to assist national agencies with intelligence, surveillance and crisis response capabilities.

Prior to his last assignment, General Corley was Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. As vice chief, he presided over the Air Staff and served as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Requirements Oversight Council.

The son of Mettie Dean and Donald Wesley Corley,^[2] a United States Army Air Corps colonel,^[3]^[4] Corley entered the Air Force after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1973. He earned his wings at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, in 1974. His aviation career includes more than 3,000 flying hours with combat experience. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels. His staff positions comprise a mix of operational and joint duties in Tactical Air Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the Joint Staff.

As Combined Air Operations Center director during Operation Enduring Freedom, Corley orchestrated more than 11,000 combat missions striking more than 4,700 targets, including 250 attacks against the Al Qaida and Taliban leadership. He directed the safe recovery of isolated personnel during the largest combat search and rescue mission in 50 years and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

Education

1973 Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
1978 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1984 Master's degree in business administration, University of the Philippines, Manila
1985 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1986 College of Naval Command and Staff, Newport, Rhode Island
1986 Master's degree in national security and strategic studies, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island
1993 U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
1999 Russian and U.S. General Officer Executive Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2002 Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Assignment

October 1973 – November 1974, student, undergraduate pilot training, Reese AFB, Texas
December 1974 – December 1978, T-38 instructor pilot and flight examiner, 64th Flying Training Wing, Reese AFB, Texas
January 1979 – July 1982, F-15 instructor pilot and flight examiner, 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
August 1982 – July 1985, F-5 instructor pilot and flight commander, C Flight, 26th Aggressor Squadron, Clark Air Base, Philippines
August 1985 – August 1986, student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Newport, Rhode Island
September 1986 – May 1988, chief analyst, Advanced Tactical Fighter, Air Force Center for Studies and Analysis, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
June 1988 – March 1990, chief analyst, Commander's Action Group, Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
April 1990 – April 1991, operations officer, 7th Fighter Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
May 1991 – July 1992, commander, 8th Fighter Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
August 1992 – July 1993, student, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
August 1993 – July 1995, deputy commander, later, Commander, 33rd Operations Group, Eglin AFB, Florida
August 1995 – June 1997, chief of Western Hemisphere Division, Directorate of Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
June 1997 – May 1999, commander, 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
June 1999 – September 2000, director of studies and analysis, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
September 2000 – March 2003, director of global power programs, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
March 2003 – August 2005, principal deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, and Military Director, U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
September 2005 – September 2007, Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
October 2007 – September 2009, commander, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va., and Air Component Commander for U.S. Joint Forces Command

Flight information

Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: 3,100
Aircraft flown: A/OA-10, F-5E/F, F-15A/B/C/D, T-38 and EC-130E/H

Awards and decorations

	Command Air Force Pilot Badge
	Basic Parachutist Badge
	Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge
	Headquarters Air Force Badge

	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit
	Bronze Star Medal
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
	Aerial Achievement Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Combat Readiness Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star
	Kosovo Campaign Medal with bronze service star
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze service star
	Air Force Training Ribbon
	Inter-American Defense Board Medal with gold service star
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions
Insignia	Rank	Date
	General	November 1, 2005
	Lieutenant General	May 1, 2003
	Major general	April 1, 2002
	Brigadier general	August 1, 1999
	Colonel	February 1, 1994
	Lieutenant colonel	September 1, 1989
	Major	May 24, 1986
	Captain	June 6, 1977
	First lieutenant	June 6, 1975
	Second lieutenant	June 6, 1973

Personal

Corley is the son of Donald Wesley Corley and Mettie Virginia Dean.^[1] He married Margaret Mary LaPaglia on July 21, 1976.^[5]

Related Research Articles

Major General Robertus Carolus Nicolaa Remkes is Director, Strategy, Policy and Assessments, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany. As Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy, he is responsible for formulation and staff direction of the execution of basic military and political policy, as well as planning for command activities involving relations with other U.S. Unified Commands, allied military and international military organizations and subordinate commands. He also serves as Director of Capabilities and Assessments. In this capacity he is responsible for the development of force structure requirements; conducting studies, analyses and assessments; and for evaluating military forces, plans, programs and strategies.

Teed Michael "Buzz" Moseley is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 18th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He is a fighter pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours in fighters and trainers, most in the F-15 Eagle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Eberhart</span> US Air Force general

Ralph Edward "Ed" Eberhart is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force (USAF). He served as the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He was in charge of NORAD during the September 11 attacks in 2001.

William Thomas Hobbins is a former Air Force general, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe; commander of Air Component Command, Ramstein; and director of Joint Air Power Competence Center, Kalkar, Germany.

Victor Eugene "Gene" Renuart Jr. is a retired United States Air Force four-star general. His last military assignment was as the commander of United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command from March 23, 2007, to May 19, 2010. Prior to that, he served as director of strategic plans and policy, the Joint Staff. Renuart retired from the Air Force on July 1, 2010, after over 39 years of service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles R. Holland</span> United States Air Force general

Charles R. Holland is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the commander of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. As commander, he was responsible for all special operations forces across every branch in the U.S. Armed Forces. Currently, Holland is the first and the only member of the U.S. Air Force to serve as commander of USSOCOM, and the only SOCOM commander without the experience as a special operator.

Carrol Howard "Howie" Chandler, is a retired United States Air Force four-star general. He last served as the 35th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from August 27, 2009, to January 14, 2011. He previously served as commander of Pacific Air Forces from November 2007 to August 20, 2009, and deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements from October 23, 2005, to November 29, 2007. As vice chief, he presided over the Air Staff and served as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Requirements Oversight Council and Deputy Advisory Working Group. He assisted the chief of staff with organizing, training, and equipping of 680,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. He retired from the Air Force by March 1, 2011. In 2012 he joined Pratt & Whitney Military Engines as vice president for military business development and international programs.

Hal M. Hornburg is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) four-star general. He last served as commander, Air Combat Command, with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and Air Component Commander for U.S. Joint Forces Command and U.S. Northern Command.

General Gregory Stuart Martin is a retired U.S. Air Force general and Commander, Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Martin was a command pilot with more than 4,600 flying hours in various aircraft, including the F-4, F-15, C-20 and C-21. Upon retirement in 2005, Martin took a position consulting for Northrop Grumman and also served on an Air Force panel studying stealth aircraft technology, among other Pentagon and private industry roles.

Gary Lewis North is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as commander of Pacific Air Forces and executive director of Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, from August 19, 2009, to August 9, 2012. Pacific Air Forces is responsible for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports 45,000 airmen serving principally in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Korea and Japan.

David A. Robinson is a retired major general in the United States Air Force who served as mobilization assistant to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve, Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregory Feest</span> United States Air Force general

Gregory A. Feest is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) major general who last served as the Chief of Safety of the United States Air Force, Headquarters USAF, Washington, D.C., and commander of the Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

Lieutenant General Clyde Dewey Moore II is a retired United States Air Force officer who served as Commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The organization is the single center responsible for total life cycle management covering all aircraft, engines, munitions, and electronic systems.

Herbert Jay "Hawk" Carlisle is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who last served as the commander of Air Combat Command, at Langley Field, Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia. He also previously served as the commander of Pacific Air Forces while concurrently serving as air component commander for United States Pacific Command and executive director of Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii. He officially retired from the Air Force on May 1, 2017, with 39 years of service.

James Michael Holmes is a retired United States Air Force general. He was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements at Headquarters United States Air Force in Washington, D.C., before he became the commander of Air Combat Command on March 10, 2017. He was succeeded by Mark D. Kelly and retired effective 1 October 2020.

Joseph Lauren Lengyel is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who last served as the 28th chief of the National Guard Bureau from August 2016 to August 2020. As chief, he was responsible for ensuring that nearly 460,000 Army National Guard and Air National Guard personnel are accessible, capable and ready to protect the homeland and to provide combat capabilities to the United States Army and the United States Air Force. Lengyel is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours primarily in the F-16.

Tod Daniel Wolters is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who last served as the commander of U.S. European Command and concurrently as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). He previously served as the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa. He assumed his capstone assignment at the European Command in Germany on May 2, 2019 and at the Allied Command in Belgium on May 3, 2019.

Jeffrey Lee Harrigian is a retired United States Air Force general who last served as the commander of United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa from May 2020 to June 2022. He concurrently served as the commander of Allied Air Command and director of the Joint Air Power Competence Center. He previously served as deputy commander and as commander of United States Air Forces Central Command. Raised in Sparks, Nevada, he graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in International Affairs and was commissioned in 1985. He assumed his capstone assignment on May 1, 2019.

Lieutenant General Salvatore A. "Sam" Angelella is a retired United States Air Force officer who last served as commander, United States Forces Japan and commander, 5th Air Force from July 2012 to August 2015. During that assignment, Angelella was the senior United States military representative in Japan and commander of United States Air Force units in Japan.

Jeffrey A. Remington is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who last served as deputy commander of United Nations Command Korea; deputy commander of U.S. Forces Korea; commander of Air Component Command, Republic of Korea/U.S. Combined Forces Command; and commander of 7th Air Force, from November 2008 to March 2012. During that assignment, he also served as the U.S. representative to the joint committee for the Status of Forces agreement between the two countries.

References

1 2 "1951 births". Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997. Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
↑ "Obituaries for Tuesday, August 28". August 10, 2022.
↑ "Defense.gov News Article: Air Force General: Academy Served as 'Leadership Laboratory'". Archive.defense.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
↑ "Mettie Virginia Dean Corley – Obituaries – Alice Echo News-Journal". Alice, TX. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
↑ Marriage Records. Lubbock, Texas: Lubbock County Clerk's Office.

This article incorporates public domain material from Official Biography. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on February 12, 2004.

Military offices
Preceded by Gen. T. Michael Moseley	Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force 2005 - 2007	Succeeded by Gen. Duncan J. McNabb
Preceded by Gen. Ronald Keys	Commander, Air Combat Command 2007 - 2009	Succeeded by Gen. William M. Fraser III

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[birth-1] 1 2 "1951 births". Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997. Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.

[2] "Obituaries for Tuesday, August 28". August 10, 2022.

[3] "Defense.gov News Article: Air Force General: Academy Served as 'Leadership Laboratory'". Archive.defense.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2019.

[4] "Mettie Virginia Dean Corley – Obituaries – Alice Echo News-Journal". Alice, TX. Retrieved December 16, 2019.

[5] Marriage Records. Lubbock, Texas: Lubbock County Clerk's Office.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

John D. W. Corley
General John D.W. Corley
Born	(1951-08-11) August 11, 1951 (age 73) San Marcos, Texas, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1973–2009
Rank	General
Commands	Air Combat Command Vice Chief of Staff, USAF 355th Wing 33d Operations Group 8th Fighter Squadron
Awards	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal