The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The medal was established on July 2, 1926, and is currently awarded to any persons who, after April 6, 1917, distinguish themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Both heroism and extraordinary achievement are entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine. The medal may be awarded to friendly foreign military members in ranks equivalent to U.S. Pay Grade of O-6 and below, in combat in support operations.
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.
General Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong, USAF, Ret.,, formerly of Williamson, West Virginia, is a former president of Mississippi State University. He served in the United States Air Force from April 1972 until retirement as general in February 2006.
Roscoe Charles Wilson was a United States Air Force general who was Commandant of the Air War College from 1951 to 1954 and Deputy Chief of Staff, Development, from 1958 to 1961.
Richard Eugene Cole was a United States Air Force colonel. During World War II, he was one of the airmen who took part in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, Japan, on April 18, 1942. He served as the co-pilot to Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle in the lead airplane of the raid by sixteen B-25 bombers, which for the first time took off from an aircraft carrier on a bombing mission.
Timothy Michael Ray is a retired United States Air Force general who last served as the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command from August 21, 2018, to August 27, 2021. He concurrently served as the commander of Air Forces Strategic – Air, United States Strategic Command. His two previous assignments were as the Deputy Commander, United States European Command, and as the Commander, Third Air Force. He previously served as the director of global power programs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington, D.C.
Kevin Bruce Schneider is a United States Air Force general who has served as the commander of the Pacific Air Forces since 2024. He previously served as director of staff of the United States Air Force from 2021 to 2024. He also served as the commander of the United States Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force.
The United States Space Force is organized by different units: the Space Staff, the field commands, and the space deltas.
Jerry P. Martinez is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who last served as commander of United States Forces Japan and commander of 5th Air Force from October 2016 to April 2019. During that assignment, he also served as interim commander of Pacific Air Forces from May 2018 to July 2018. Before this assignment, Martinez served as Director of Operations of Air Mobility Command from May 2015 to September 2016.
Lieutenant General John L. Dolan is a retired United States Air Force officer who last served as the director for operations (J-3) on the Joint Chiefs of Staff from August 2016 to October 2018. Before that, he served as the commander of United States Forces Japan and commander of 5th Air Force from June 2015 to August 2016.
Derek Charles France is a United States Air Force major general who served as the commander of Third Air Force from 2022 to 2024. He previously served as the director of operations, strategic deterrence, and nuclear integration of the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa.
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.
Joel L. Carey is a United States Air Force major general who serves as Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence, and Nuclear Integration of U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa since June 2022. He most recently served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Allied Air Command and before that he was the commander of the 18th Wing and, prior to that, the vice commander of the Fifth Air Force.
Michael Elliott Langley is a United States Marine Corps general who has served as the commander of the United States Africa Command since August 9, 2022. He most recently served as commander of United States Marine Corps Forces Command, United States Marine Corps Forces Northern Command, and Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic from November 2021 to August 2022. He also served as deputy commander of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and before that as commander of United States Marine Forces Europe and Africa.
Lieutenant General Thomas C. Waskow is a retired United States Air Force officer who last served as Commander, United States Forces Japan and Commander, 5th Air Force from November 2001 to April 2005. During that assignment, he was the senior U.S. military representative in Japan and Commander of U.S. Air Force units in Japan.
The commander of Space Operations Command is a lieutenant general who leads the field command that provide space forces to the United States Space Command and supports other unified combatant commands. A senior leader in the Space Force, it is only one of three field commanders and, of which, only one of two held by a lieutenant general.
