The rank of lieutenant general (or three-star general) is the second-highest rank normally achievable in the United States Air Force, and the first to have a specified number of appointments set by statute. It ranks above major general (two-star general) and below general (four-star general).
There have been 65 lieutenant generals in the U.S. Air Force since 1 January 2020, four of whom were elevated to four-star general. All 65 achieved that rank while on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. Lieutenant generals entered the Air Force via several paths: 29 were commissioned via the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), 22 via Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at a civilian university, eight via Air Force Officer Training School (OTS), three via direct commission (direct), two via AFROTC at a senior military college, and one via the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA).
Entries in the following list of lieutenant 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 in the U.S. Air Force or was promoted to four-star rank while on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. Each entry lists the general's name, date of rank, [a] active-duty positions held while serving at three-star rank, [b] number of years of active-duty service at three-star rank (Yrs), [c] year commissioned and source of commission, [d] number of years in commission when promoted to three-star rank (YC), [e] and other biographical notes (years of birth and death are shown in parentheses in the Notes column). [f] Officers transferred to the U.S. Space Force in the grade of lieutenant general are included while having previously held that rank in the Air Force previously are included, while Air Force officers first promoted to lieutenant general in the U.S. Space Force are excluded.
# | Name | Photo | Date of rank [a] | Position [b] | Yrs [c] | Commission [d] | YC [e] | Notes [f] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | David A. Krumm | 20 Apr 2020 |
| 2 | 1989 (AFROTC) | 31 | (1967– ) | |
2 | Scott L. Pleus | 12 Jun 2020 |
| 4 | 1989 (AFROTC) | 31 | ||
3 | S. Clinton Hinote | 15 Jun 2020 | 3 | 1992 (USAFA) | 28 | |||
4 | Carl E. Schaefer | 21 Jun 2020 |
| 3 | 1990 (USAFA) | 30 | ||
* | Gregory M. Guillot | 16 Jul 2020 |
| 4 | 1989 (USAFA) | 31 | (c. 1961– ) [g] Promoted to general, 5 Feb 2024. | |
5 | Michael A. Loh | 22 Jul 2020 |
| 4 | 1984 (USAFA) | 36 | (1962– ) Son of Air Force four-star general John M. Loh. | |
6 | Kirk S. Pierce | 29 Jul 2020 |
| 3 | 1988 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1966– ) | |
7 | Tony D. Bauernfeind | 31 Jul 2020 |
| 4 | 1991 (USAFA) | 29 | ||
8 | Kirk W. Smith | 4 Aug 2020 |
| 4 | 1989 (USAFA) | 31 | (1967– ) | |
9 | Brian S. Robinson | 14 Aug 2020 |
| 4 | 1987 (OTS) | 33 | (1965– ) | |
10 | Jeffrey A. Kruse | 16 Aug 2020 |
| 4 | 1990 (AFROTC) | 30 | (1968– ) | |
11 | Charles L. Moore Jr. | 3 Sep 2020 |
| 3 | 1989 (USAFA) | 31 | (1966– ) | |
12 | Shaun Q. Morris | 3 Sep 2020 |
| 3 | 1988 (USAFA) | 32 | ||
13 | Sam C. Barrett | 4 Sep 2020 |
| 2 | 1988 (USAFA) | 32 | ||
14 | James C. Dawkins Jr. | 1 Oct 2020 |
| 3 | 1989 (OTS) | 31 | (1966– ) | |
15 | Andrew A. Croft | 28 Dec 2020 |
| 3 | 1988 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1965– ) | |
16 | Robert J. Skinner | 25 Feb 2021 |
| 3 | 1989 (OTS) | 32 | ||
17 | Robert I. Miller | 4 Jun 2021 |
| 3 | 1989 (direct) | 32 | (1963– ) | |
18 | Russell L. Mack | 16 Aug 2021 |
| 2 | 1988 (OTS) | 33 | ||
19 | Tom D. Miller | 17 Aug 2021 |
| 3 | 1990 (AFROTC) | 31 | ||
20 | James A. Jacobson | 20 Aug 2021 |
| 3 | 1990 (USAFA) | 31 | ||
21 | Mark E. Weatherington | 23 Aug 2021 |
| 2 | 1990 (USAFA) | 31 | (1967– ) | |
22 | Ricky N. Rupp | 27 Aug 2021 |
| 3 | 1989 (AFROTC) | 32 | ||
23 | David J. Julazadeh | 4 Oct 2021 |
| 3 | 1990 (AFROTC) | 31 | (1966– ) | |
24 | Lance K. Landrum | 11 Oct 2021 |
| 2 | 1992 (USAFA) | 29 | (c. 1970– ) | |
25 | John D. Caine | 3 Nov 2021 |
| 3 | 1990 (VMI) | 31 | ||
26 | Stephen L. Davis | 2 Mar 2022 |
| 2 | 1989 (OTS) | 33 | ||
27 | Caroline M. Miller | 26 May 2022 |
| 2 | 1994 (OTS) | 28 | (1968– ) [h] | |
28 | Charles L. Plummer | 26 May 2022 |
| 2 | 1995 (direct) [i] | 27 | ||
* | Randall Reed | 3 Jun 2022 |
| 2 | 1989 (USAFA) | 33 | (c. 1967– ) [j] Promoted to general, 4 Oct 2024. | |
29 | Richard G. Moore Jr. | 30 Jun 2022 |
| 2 | 1992 (USAFA) | 30 | ||
30 | Michael J. Schmidt | 5 Jul 2022 |
| 2 | 1991 (AFROTC) | 31 | ||
* | John D. Lamontagne | 7 Jul 2022 |
| 2 | 1992 (USAFA) | 30 | (c. 1970– ) Promoted to general, 7 Sep 2024. | |
31 | Alexus G. Grynkewich | 21 Jul 2022 |
| 2 | 1993 (USAFA) | 29 | ||
32 | Kevin B. Kennedy | 21 Jul 2022 |
| 2 | 1990 (USAFA) | 32 | ||
33 | Andrea D. Tullos | 25 Jul 2022 |
| 2 | 1991 (OTS) | 31 | ||
34 | Leonard J. Kosinski | 2 Aug 2022 |
| 2 | 1993 (USAFA) | 29 | ||
35 | John P. Healy | 3 Aug 2022 |
| 2 | 1989 (AFROTC) | 33 | (c. 1967– ) | |
36 | Leah G. Lauderback | 6 Aug 2022 |
| 2 | 1993 (AFROTC) | 29 | ||
37 | Dagvin R. M. Anderson | 8 Aug 2022 |
| 2 | 1992 (AFROTC) | 30 | ||
38 | Stacey T. Hawkins | 15 Aug 2022 |
| 2 | 1991 (USAFA) | 31 | ||
39 | Donna D. Shipton | 22 Aug 2022 |
| 2 | 1991 (AFROTC) | 31 | (c. 1970– ) | |
* | Steven S. Nordhaus | 31 Mar 2023 |
| 1 | 1989 (USAFA) | 34 | (1966– ) [k] Promoted to general, 2 Oct 2024. | |
40 | Heath A. Collins | 5 Dec 2023 |
| 1 | 1993 (AFROTC) | 30 | (c. 1971– ) | |
41 | Andrew J. Gebara | 5 Dec 2023 |
| 1 | 1991 (USNA) | 32 | (c. 1969– ) | |
42 | Adrian L. Spain | 19 Dec 2023 |
| 1 | 1994 (AFROTC) | 29 | ||
43 | Dale R. White | 27 Dec 2023 |
| 1 | 1997 (AFROTC) | 26 | (c. 1971– ) | |
44 | Michael G. Koscheski | 5 Jan 2024 |
| 0 | 1992 (USAFA) | 32 | ||
45 | Michael J. Lutton | 8 Jan 2024 |
| 0 | 1990 (AFROTC) | 34 | ||
46 | Linda S. Hurry | 13 Jan 2024 |
| 0 | 1991 (USAFA) | 33 | ||
47 | David R. Iverson | 30 Jan 2024 |
| 0 | 1991 (AFROTC) | 33 | (c. 1969– ) | |
48 | Laura L. Lenderman | 23 Feb 2024 |
| 0 | 1993 (AFROTC) | 31 | ||
49 | Sean M. Farrell | 8 Mar 2024 |
| 0 | 1990 (AFROTC) | 34 | ||
50 | Derek C. France | 18 Apr 2024 |
| 0 | 1992 (USAFA) | 32 | (c. 1970– ) | |
51 | David H. Tabor | 1 Jul 2024 |
| 0 | 1992 (AFROTC) | 32 | ||
52 | Michael E. Conley | 1 Jul 2024 |
| 0 | 1996 (USAFA) | 28 | [h] | |
53 | John J. DeGoes | 31 Jul 2024 |
| 0 | 1989 (direct) | 35 | ||
54 | Thomas K. Hensley | 1 Aug 2024 |
| 0 | 1992 (Texas A&M) | 32 | ||
55 | Case A. Cunningham | 9 Aug 2024 |
| 0 | 1994 (USAFA) | 30 | (c. 1972– ) | |
56 | Jason T. Hinds | 30 Aug 2024 |
| 0 | 1996 (AFROTC) | 28 | (c. 1974– ) | |
57 | Jennifer M. Short | 30 Sep 2024 |
| 0 | 1995 (OTS) | 29 | (c. 1970– ) Daughter of Air Force lieutenant general Michael C. Short. | |
58 | M. Luke Ahmann | 2 Oct 2024 |
| 0 | 1993 (USAFA) | 31 | (c. 1971– ) Son of Air Force lieutenant general James H. Ahmann. [1] | |
59 | Rebecca J. Sonkiss | 7 Oct 2024 |
| 0 | 1994 (USAFA) | 30 | (c. 1972– ) | |
60 | Stephen F. Jost | 8 Oct 2024 |
| 0 | 1994 (USAFA) | 30 | (c. 1972– ) | |
61 | Evan L. Pettus | 4 Nov 2024 |
| 0 | 1994 (USAFA) | 30 | (c. 1972– ) |
Lieutenant generals in the United States Air Force typically serve in high-level command and staff positions, [2] including as commanders of major commands (MAJCOMs), [3] commanders of numbered air forces (NAF) [3] [4] that are concurrently designated as service component commands under a four-star unified combatant commander and deputy commanders of four-star major commands. Under the Air Staff, this includes the director of staff and deputy chiefs of staff (limited to 8 by statute), [5] as well as the inspector general. [6] High-level specialty positions such as the surgeon general, [7] judge advocate general, [8] and chief of Air Force Reserve [9] may also hold three-star rank, though not by statute. The superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy and director of the Air National Guard have been three-star positions since 1983 [n] and 2002 respectively.
About 30 to 50 joint service three-star billets exist at any given time that can be occupied by an Air Force lieutenant general, among the most prestigious being the director of the Joint Staff (DJS), principal staff advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and historically considered a stepping stone to four-star rank. [10] All deputy commanders of the unified combatant commands are of three-star rank, [o] as are directors of Defense Agencies not headed by a civilian such as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIRDIA). [11] Internationally based three-star positions include the deputy chair of the NATO Military Committee (DCMC), United States military representative to the NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), and the security coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian National Authority. All nominees for three-star rank must be confirmed via majority by the Senate before the appointee can take office and thus assume the rank. [12]
The U.S. Code states that no more than 44 officers in the U.S. Air Force may hold the rank of lieutenant general on the active duty list, aside from those on joint duty assignments. [13] Three-star positions can be elevated to four-star status or reduced to two-star status where deemed necessary, either to highlight their increasing importance [p] to the defense apparatus (or lack thereof) or to achieve parity with equivalent commands in other services or regions.
Military nominations are considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee. While it is rare for three-star or four-star nominations to face even token opposition in the Senate, nominations that do face opposition due to controversy surrounding the nominee in question are typically withdrawn. Nominations that are not withdrawn are allowed to expire without action at the end of the legislative session.
Additionally, events that take place after Senate confirmation may still delay or even prevent the nominee from assuming office.
The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act explicitly prohibits adding new general officer billets to the Space Force beyond the sole four-star billet of the chief of space operations. This necessitated that five Air Force three-star appointments be transferred to the Space Force, leaving them with 30 as opposed to 35 available three-star positions. [23] [24] [13]
The Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFROTC) is one of the three primary commissioning sources for officers in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, the other two being the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and Air Force Officer Training School (OTS). A subordinate command of the Air University within the Air Education and Training Command (AETC), AFROTC is aligned under the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. The Holm Center, formerly known as the Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools (AFOATS), retains direct responsibility for both AFROTC and OTS.
Officer Training School (OTS) is a United States Air Force and United States Space Force commissioning program located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.
In the United States military, a general is the most senior general-grade officer; it is the highest achievable commissioned officer rank that may be attained in the United States Armed Forces, with exception of the Navy and Coast Guard, which have the equivalent rank of admiral instead. The official and formal insignia of "general" is defined by its four stars.
In the United States Armed Forces, a lieutenant general is a three-star general officer in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
In the United States Armed Forces, a brigadier general is a one-star general officer in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
In the United States Armed Forces, a major general is a two-star general officer in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
scott fry joint staff.