List of United States Air Force four-star generals
This is a complete list of four-star generals in the United States Air Force. The rank of general (or full general, or four-star general) is the highest rank normally achievable in the U.S. Air Force. It ranks above lieutenant general (three-star general) and below General of the Air Force (five-star general).
There have been 214 four-star generals in the history of the U.S. Air Force. Of these, 209 achieved that rank while on active duty, 3 were promoted after retirement, and one was promoted posthumously. Generals entered the Air Force via several paths: 60 were commissioned via the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), 49 via the aviation cadet program, 39 via the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), 38 via Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at a civilian university, 12 via AFROTC at a senior military college, 7 via Air Force Officer Training School (OTS), 4 via the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), 2 via direct commission, one via Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at a civilian university, one via the Army National Guard (ARNG), and one via the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
List of generals
Entries in the following list of four-star 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. Each entry lists the general's name, date of rank,[1] active-duty positions held while serving at four-star rank,[2] number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank (Yrs),[3] year commissioned and source of commission,[4] number of years in commission when promoted to four-star rank (YC),[5] and other biographical notes.[6]
The list is sortable by last name, date of rank, number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank, year commissioned, and number of years in commission when promoted to four-star rank. The median number of years in commission to achieve four-star rank is 31 (as can be seen by sorting by 'YC' and scrolling halfway down this list) and the quickest rise to four-star is 22 years (LeMay and Norstad).
# | Name | Photo | Date of rank | Position | Yrs[3] | Commission | YC[5] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Henry H. Arnold | 19 Mar 1943 |
|
3 | 1907 (USMA) | 36 | (1886–1950) Promoted to general of the Army, 21 Dec 1944; to general of the Air Force, 7 May 1949. | |
2 | Joseph T. McNarney | 7 Mar 1945 |
|
7 | 1915 (USMA) | 30 | (1893–1972) | |
3 | George Kenney | 9 Mar 1945 |
|
6 | 1917 (cadet) | 28 | (1889–1977) | |
4 | Carl A. Spaatz | 11 Mar 1945 |
|
3 | 1914 (USMA) | 31 | (1891–1974) | |
5 | Hoyt Vandenberg | 1 Oct 1947 |
|
6 | 1923 (USMA) | 24 | (1899–1954) Director of Central Intelligence, 1946–1947. Nephew of U.S. Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg; son married daughter of Air Force four-star general Leon W. Johnson. | |
6 | Muir S. Fairchild | 27 May 1948 |
|
2 | 1918 (cadet) | 30 | (1894–1950) Died in office. | |
7 | Nathan F. Twining | 10 Oct 1950 |
|
10 | 1918 (USMA) | 32 | (1897–1982) Brother of Marine Corps four-star general Merrill B. Twining. | |
8 | John K. Cannon | 29 Oct 1951 |
|
3 | 1917 (direct) | 34 | (1892–1955) | |
9 | Benjamin W. Chidlaw | 29 Oct 1951 |
|
4 | 1922 (USMA) | 29 | (1900–1977) | |
10 | Curtis LeMay | 29 Oct 1951 |
|
14 | 1929 (cadet) | 22 | (1906–1990) American Independent Party nominee for U.S. Vice president, 1968. | |
11 | Lauris Norstad | 5 Jul 1952 |
|
11 | 1930 (USMA) | 22 | (1907–1988) | |
12 | Otto P. Weyland | 5 Jul 1952 |
|
7 | 1923 (Texas A&M) | 29 | (1902–1979) | |
13 | Thomas D. White | 30 Jun 1953 |
|
8 | 1920 (USMA) | 33 | (1902–1965) | |
14 | Edwin W. Rawlings | 19 Feb 1954 |
|
5 | 1930 (cadet) | 24 | (1904–1997) | |
15 | Earle E. Partridge | 19 Feb 1954 |
|
5 | 1924 (USMA) | 30 | (1900–1990) | |
16 | Orval R. Cook | 1 Apr 1954 |
|
2 | 1922 (USMA) | 32 | (1898–1980) | |
17 | Laurence S. Kuter | 29 May 1955 |
|
7 | 1927 (USMA) | 28 | (1905–1979)[7] U.S. Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization, 1946–1948. | |
18 | Thomas S. Power | 30 Jun 1957 |
|
7 | 1929 (cadet) | 28 | (1905–1970) | |
19 | Frank F. Everest | 1 Jul 1957 |
|
4 | 1928 (USMA) | 29 | (1904–1983) | |
20 | Leon W. Johnson | 31 Aug 1957 |
|
8 | 1926 (USMA) | 31 | (1904–1997)[8] Awarded Medal of Honor, 1943. Daughter married son of Air Force four-star general Hoyt S. Vandenberg. | |
21 | Charles P. Cabell | 11 Jul 1958 |
|
4 | 1925 (USMA) | 33 | (1903–1971) Distant cousin of Navy four-star admiral Richard H. Jackson. | |
22 | Samuel E. Anderson | 10 Mar 1959 |
|
4 | 1928 (USMA) | 31 | (1906–1982) | |
23 | Emmett O'Donnell, Jr. | 31 Jul 1959 |
|
4 | 1928 (USMA) | 31 | (1906–1971) | |
24 | Frederic H. Smith, Jr. | 1 Aug 1959 |
|
3 | 1929 (USMA) | 30 | (1908–1980) Son-in-law of Navy five-star admiral Ernest J. King. | |
25 | Truman H. Landon | 28 Jun 1961 |
|
2 | 1928 (USMA) | 33 | (1905–1986) | |
26 | William F. McKee | 29 Jun 1961 |
|
3 | 1929 (USMA) | 32 | (1906–1987) Assistant Administrator for Management and Development, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1964–1965; Administrator, Federal Aviation Agency, 1965–1968. | |
27 | Walter C. Sweeney, Jr. | 30 Jun 1961 |
|
4 | 1930 (USMA) | 31 | (1909–1965) | |
28 | Bernard A. Schriever | 1 Jul 1961 |
|
5 | 1931 (Texas A&M) | 30 | (1910–2005) | |
29 | John K. Gerhart | 29 Jun 1962 |
|
3 | 1929 (cadet) | 33 | (1907–1981) | |
30 | Dean C. Strother | 30 Jun 1962 |
|
4 | 1931 (USMA) | 31 | (1908–2000) | |
31 | Mark E. Bradley | 1 Jul 1962 |
|
3 | 1930 (USMA) | 32 | (1907–1999) | |
32 | John P. McConnell | 1 Oct 1962 |
|
7 | 1932 (USMA) | 30 | (1908–1986) | |
33 | Robert M. Lee | 4 Jun 1963 |
|
3 | 1931 (USMA) | 32 | (1909–2003) | |
34 | Jacob E. Smart | 5 Jun 1963 |
|
3 | 1931 (USMA) | 32 | (1909–2006) Assistant Administrator for Policy/DoD and Interagency Affairs, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1967–1973. | |
35 | Joe W. Kelly | 6 Jun 1963 |
|
1 | 1932 (USMA) | 31 | (1910–1979) | |
36 | Gabriel P. Disosway | 1 Aug 1963 |
|
5 | 1933 (USMA) | 30 | (1910–2001) | |
37 | Hunter Harris, Jr. | 18 Jul 1964 |
|
3 | 1932 (USMA) | 32 | (1909–1987) | |
38 | Howell M. Estes II | 19 Jul 1964 |
|
5 | 1936 (USMA) | 28 | (1914–2007) Father of Air Force four-star general Howell M. Estes III. | |
39 | John D. Ryan | 1 Dec 1964 |
|
9 | 1938 (USMA) | 26 | (1915–1983) Father of Air Force four-star general Michael E. Ryan. | |
40 | William H. Blanchard | 19 Feb 1965 |
|
1 | 1938 (USMA) | 27 | (1916–1966) Died in office. | |
41 | Kenneth B. Hobson | 31 Jul 1965 |
|
2 | 1932 (USMA) | 33 | (1908–1979) | |
42 | Bruce K. Holloway | 1 Aug 1965 |
|
7 | 1937 (USMA) | 28 | (1912–1999) | |
43 | William S. Stone | 28 Jul 1966 |
|
2 | 1934 (USMA) | 32 | (1910–1968) Died in office. Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1959–1962. | |
44 | Raymond J. Reeves | 29 Jul 1966 |
|
3 | 1934 (USMA) | 32 | (1909–1998) | |
45 | James Ferguson | 30 Jul 1966 |
|
4 | 1937 (cadet) | 29 | (1913–2000) | |
46 | David A. Burchinal | 31 Jul 1966 |
|
7 | 1940 (cadet) | 26 | (1915–1990) | |
47 | Maurice A. Preston | 1 Aug 1966 |
|
2 | 1937 (USMA) | 29 | (1912–1983) | |
48 | Joseph J. Nazzaro | 1 Feb 1967 |
|
4 | 1936 (USMA) | 31 | (1913–1990) | |
49 | Thomas P. Gerrity | 1 Aug 1967 |
|
1 | 1940 (cadet) | 27 | (1913–1968) Died in office. | |
50 | William W. Momyer | 13 Dec 1967 |
|
6 | 1939 (cadet) | 28 | (1916–2012) | |
51 | Jack G. Merrell | 29 Mar 1968 |
|
4 | 1939 (USMA) | 29 | (1915–1993) | |
52 | Horace M. Wade | 31 Jul 1968 |
|
5 | 1938 (cadet) | 30 | (1916–2001) | |
53 | George S. Brown | 1 Aug 1968 |
|
10 | 1941 (USMA) | 27 | (1918–1978) | |
54 | Joseph R. Holzapple | 1 Feb 1969 |
|
2 | 1941 (cadet) | 28 | (1914–1973) | |
55 | Seth J. McKee | 30 Jul 1969 |
|
4 | 1939 (cadet) | 30 | (1916– ) | |
56 | John C. Meyer | 31 Jul 1969 |
|
5 | 1940 (cadet) | 29 | (1919–1975) | |
57 | Jack J. Catton | 1 Aug 1969 |
|
5 | 1941 (cadet) | 28 | (1920–1990) | |
58 | Lucius D. Clay, Jr. | 1 Sep 1970 |
|
5 | 1942 (USMA) | 28 | (1919–1994) Son of Army four-star general Lucius D. Clay; grandson of U.S. Senator Alexander S. Clay. | |
59 | Theodore R. Milton | 31 Jul 1971 |
|
3 | 1940 (USMA) | 31 | (1915–2010) | |
60 | John D. Lavelle | 1 Aug 1971 |
|
1 | 1940 (cadet) | 31 | (1916–1979)[9] Relieved, 1972. | |
61 | David C. Jones | 1 Sep 1971 |
|
11 | 1943 (cadet) | 28 | (1921–2013) | |
62 | John W. Vogt, Jr. | 7 Apr 1972 |
|
3 | 1942 (cadet) | 30 | (1920–2010) | |
63 | Russell E. Dougherty | 1 May 1972 |
|
5 | 1943 (cadet) | 29 | (1920–2007) Father-in-law of Air Force four-star general Joseph W. Ralston. | |
* | George B. Simler | 16 Aug 1972 |
|
0 | 1942 (cadet) | 30 | (1921–1972)[10] | |
64 | Paul K. Carlton | 9 Oct 1972 |
|
5 | 1942 (cadet) | 30 | (1921–2009) | |
65 | Timothy F. O'Keefe | 1973 |
|
1 | 1940 (cadet) | 33 | (1919–1984) | |
66 | George J. Eade | 18 Apr 1973 |
|
2 | 1942 (cadet) | 31 | (1921– ) | |
67 | Samuel C. Phillips | 1 Aug 1973 |
|
2 | 1942 (ROTC) | 31 | (1921–1990) Director, National Security Agency, 1972–1973. | |
68 | Richard H. Ellis | 30 Sep 1973 |
|
8 | 1942 (cadet) | 31 | (1919–1989) U.S. Commissioner for the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Standing Consultative Commission, 1982–1989. | |
69 | Robert J. Dixon | 1 Oct 1973 |
|
5 | 1942 (RCAF) | 31 | (1920–2003)[11] | |
70 | Louis L. Wilson Jr. | 1 Jul 1974 |
|
3 | 1943 (USMA) | 31 | (1919–2010) | |
71 | Louis T. Seith | 1 Aug 1974 |
|
3 | 1943 (USMA) | 31 | (1921–2007) | |
72 | William V. McBride | 1 Sep 1974 |
|
4 | 1942 (cadet) | 32 | (1922– ) | |
73 | William J. Evans | 30 Aug 1975 |
|
3 | 1946 (USMA) | 29 | (1924–2000) | |
74 | F. Michael Rogers | 1 Sep 1975 |
|
3 | 1943 (cadet) | 32 | (1921–2014) | |
75 | Daniel James, Jr. | 1 Sep 1975 |
|
2 | 1943 (cadet) | 32 | (1920–1978) | |
76 | Robert E. Huyser | 1 Sep 1975 |
|
6 | 1944 (cadet) | 31 | (1924–1997) U.S. Special Envoy to Iran, 1979. | |
77 | John W. Roberts | 29 Mar 1977 |
|
2 | 1944 (cadet) | 33 | (1921–1999) | |
78 | William G. Moore Jr. | 1 Apr 1977 |
|
2 | 1941 (cadet) | 36 | (1920–2012) | |
79 | Lew Allen | 31 Jul 1977 |
|
5 | 1946 (USMA) | 31 | (1925–2010) Director, National Security Agency, 1973–1977; Director, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1982–1990. | |
80 | James R. Allen | 1 Aug 1977 |
|
6 | 1948 (USMA) | 29 | (1925–1992) Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1974–1977. | |
81 | James E. Hill | 21 Dec 1977 |
|
2 | 1943 (cadet) | 34 | (1921–1999) | |
82 | Bryce Poe II | 2 Feb 1978 |
|
3 | 1946 (USMA) | 32 | (1924–2000) | |
83 | Alton D. Slay | 1 Apr 1978 |
|
3 | 1944 (cadet) | 34 | (1924–2015) | |
84 | Wilbur L. Creech | 1 May 1978 |
|
6 | 1949 (cadet) | 29 | (1927–2003) | |
85 | James A. Hill | 10 Jul 1978 |
|
2 | 1944 (cadet) | 34 | (1923–2010) | |
86 | John W. Pauly | 1 Aug 1978 |
|
2 | 1945 (USMA) | 33 | (1923–2013) | |
87 | Bennie L. Davis | 1 Apr 1979 |
|
6 | 1950 (USMA) | 29 | (1928–2012) | |
88 | William Y. Smith | 1 Jul 1979 |
|
4 | 1948 (USMA) | 31 | (1925–2016) | |
89 | Robert C. Mathis | 1 Mar 1980 |
|
2 | 1948 (USMA) | 32 | (1927–2016) | |
90 | Richard L. Lawson | 1 Jul 1980 |
|
6 | 1951 (ARNG) | 29 | (1929– )[12] | |
91 | Charles A. Gabriel | 1 Aug 1980 |
|
6 | 1950 (USMA) | 30 | (1928–2003) | |
92 | Robert T. Marsh | 1 Feb 1981 |
|
3 | 1949 (USMA) | 32 | (1925– ) | |
93 | Thomas M. Ryan, Jr. | 31 Jul 1981 |
|
4 | 1950 (cadet) | 31 | (1928– ) | |
94 | James P. Mullins | 1 Aug 1981 |
|
3 | 1949 (cadet) | 32 | (1928– ) | |
95 | James V. Hartinger | 1 Oct 1981 |
|
3 | 1949 (USMA) | 32 | (1925–2000) | |
96 | Jerome F. O'Malley | 1 Jun 1982 |
|
3 | 1953 (USMA) | 29 | (1932–1985) Died in office. | |
97 | Billy M. Minter | 1 Jul 1982 |
|
2 | 1949 (cadet) | 33 | (1926–2005) | |
98 | Andrew P. Iosue | 1 Jul 1983 |
|
3 | 1951 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1927– ) | |
99 | James E. Dalton | 1 Aug 1983 |
|
2 | 1954 (USMA) | 29 | (1930– ) | |
100 | Lawrence A. Skantze | 6 Oct 1983 |
|
4 | 1952 (USNA) | 31 | (1928– ) | |
101 | Larry D. Welch | 1 Aug 1984 |
|
6 | 1953 (cadet) | 31 | (1934– ) President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 1990–2003, 2006–present. | |
102 | Robert T. Herres | 1 Aug 1984 |
|
6 | 1954 (USNA) | 30 | (1932–2008) | |
103 | Robert W. Bazley | 1 Nov 1984 |
|
2 | 1945 (cadet) | 29 | (1925–2012) | |
104 | Charles L. Donnelly, Jr. | 1 Nov 1984 |
|
3 | 1952 (cadet) | 32 | (1929–1994) | |
105 | Earl T. O'Loughlin | 1 Nov 1984 |
|
3 | 1952 (cadet) | 32 | (1930– ) | |
* | James Doolittle | 4 Apr 1985 |
|
0 | 1918 (cadet) | 67 | (1896–1993)[13] Awarded Medal of Honor, 1942; Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1989. First Air Force reservist to attain rank of general. | |
* | Ira C. Eaker | 26 Apr 1985 |
|
0 | 1917 (direct) | 68 | (1896–1987)[14] Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 1978. | |
106 | Robert D. Russ | 22 May 1985 |
|
6 | 1955 (AFROTC) | 30 | (1933–1997) | |
107 | John T. Chain, Jr. | 1 Jul 1985 |
|
6 | 1956 (AFROTC) | 29 | (1934– ) U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Politico-Military Affairs, 1984–1985. | |
108 | John L. Piotrowski | 1 Aug 1985 |
|
5 | 1954 (cadet) | 31 | (1934– ) | |
109 | Duane H. Cassidy | 8 Nov 1985 |
|
4 | 1954 (cadet) | 31 | (1933–2016) | |
110 | Robert H. Reed | 1 Jul 1986 |
|
2 | 1953 (cadet) | 33 | (1929– ) | |
111 | Thomas C. Richards | 1 Dec 1986 |
|
3 | 1956 (VPI) | 30 | (1930– ) Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, 1992–1993. | |
112 | Jack I. Gregory | 1 Jan 1987 |
|
1 | 1953 (AFROTC) | 34 | (1931– ) | |
113 | Monroe W. Hatch Jr. | 29 Jan 1987 |
|
3 | 1951 (USNA) | 36 | (1933– ) | |
114 | William L. Kirk | 1 May 1987 |
|
2 | 1954 (cadet) | 33 | (1932– ) | |
115 | Bernard P. Randolph | 1 Aug 1987 |
|
3 | 1956 (cadet) | 31 | (1933– ) | |
116 | Alfred G. Hansen | 1 Aug 1987 |
|
2 | 1955 (cadet) | 32 | (1933– ) | |
117 | John A. Shaud | 1 Jul 1988 |
|
3 | 1956 (USMA) | 32 | (1933– ) | |
118 | Merrill McPeak | 1 Aug 1988 |
|
6 | 1957 (AFROTC) | 31 | (1936– ) | |
119 | Michael J. Dugan | 1 May 1989 |
|
1 | 1958 (USMA) | 31 | (1937– ) Relieved, 1990. | |
120 | James P. McCarthy | 1 Oct 1989 |
|
3 | 1957 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1935– ) | |
121 | Hansford T. Johnson | 1 Oct 1989 |
|
3 | 1959 (USAFA) | 30 | (1936– ) U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment, 2002–2005. | |
122 | Charles C. McDonald | 1 Nov 1989 |
|
3 | 1956 (AFROTC) | 33 | (1933– ) | |
123 | Donald J. Kutyna | 1 Apr 1990 |
|
2 | 1957 (USMA) | 33 | (1933– ) | |
124 | Ronald W. Yates | 1 Apr 1990 |
|
5 | 1960 (USAFA) | 30 | (1938– ) | |
125 | John M. Loh | 1 Jun 1990 |
|
5 | 1960 (USAFA) | 30 | (1938– ) | |
126 | Robert C. Oaks | 1 Jul 1990 |
|
4 | 1959 (USAFA) | 31 | (1936– ) | |
127 | George Lee Butler | 25 Jan 1991 |
|
3 | 1961 (USAFA) | 30 | (1939– ) | |
128 | Jimmie V. Adams | 13 Feb 1991 |
|
2 | 1958 (AFROTC) | 33 | (1936– ) | |
129 | Michael P. C. Carns | 16 May 1991 |
|
3 | 1959 (USAFA) | 32 | (1937– )[15] | |
130 | James B. Davis | 24 Jul 1991 |
|
2 | 1958 (USNA) | 33 | (1935– ) | |
131 | Chuck Horner | 1 Jul 1992 |
|
2 | 1958 (AFROTC) | 34 | (1936– ) | |
132 | Ronald Fogleman | 1 Sep 1992 |
|
5 | 1963 (USAFA) | 29 | (1942– ) | |
133 | Charles G. Boyd | 1 Dec 1992 |
|
3 | 1960 (cadet) | 32 | (1938– ) | |
134 | Henry Viccellio Jr. | 1 Dec 1992 |
|
5 | 1963 (USAFA) | 29 | (1940– ) | |
135 | Robert L. Rutherford | 1 Feb 1993 |
|
3 | 1961 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1938–2013) | |
136 | Thomas S. Moorman, Jr. | 1 Aug 1994 |
|
3 | 1962 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1940– ) | |
137 | James L. Jamerson | 1 Sep 1994 |
|
4 | 1963 (USAFA) | 31 | (1941– ) | |
138 | Joseph W. Ashy | 13 Sep 1994 |
|
2 | 1962 (Texas A&M) | 32 | (1940– ) | |
139 | John G. Lorber | 12 Oct 1994 |
|
3 | 1964 (USAFA) | 30 | (1941– ) | |
140 | Billy J. Boles | 1 Jul 1995 |
|
2 | 1962 (AFROTC) | 33 | (1938– ) | |
141 | Joseph Ralston | 1 Jul 1995 |
|
8 | 1965 (AFROTC) | 30 | (1943– ) U.S. Special Envoy for Countering the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), 2006–present. Son-in-law of Air Force four-star general Russell E. Dougherty. | |
142 | Richard E. Hawley | 1 Aug 1995 |
|
4 | 1964 (USAFA) | 31 | (1942– ) | |
143 | Eugene E. Habiger | 1 Mar 1996 |
|
2 | 1963 (OTS) | 33 | (1939– ) Director of Security and Emergency Operations, U.S. Department of Energy, 1999–2001. | |
144 | Michael E. Ryan | 4 Apr 1996 |
|
5 | 1965 (USAFA) | 31 | (1941– ) Son of Air Force four-star general John D. Ryan. | |
145 | Walter Kross | 1 Aug 1996 |
|
2 | 1964 (OTS) | 32 | (1942– ) | |
146 | Howell M. Estes III | 1 Oct 1996 |
|
2 | 1965 (USAFA) | 31 | (1941– ) Son of Air Force four-star general Howell M. Estes Jr. | |
147 | Lloyd W. Newton | 1 Apr 1997 |
|
3 | 1966 (AFROTC) | 31 | (1942– ) | |
148 | George T. Babbitt, Jr. | 1 Jun 1997 |
|
3 | 1965 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1942– ) Director, Defense Logistics Agency, 1996–1997. | |
149 | Ralph Eberhart | 1 Aug 1997 |
|
7 | 1968 (USAFA) | 29 | (1946– ) | |
150 | Richard Myers | 1 Sep 1997 |
|
8 | 1965 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1942– ) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2005. | |
151 | John A. Gordon | 31 Oct 1997 |
|
3 | 1968 (AFROTC) | 29 | (1946– ) U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, 1993–1994; U.S. Undersecretary of Energy for Nuclear Security, 2000–2002; Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism, 2002–2003; Homeland Security Advisor, 2003–2004. | |
152 | John P. Jumper | 17 Nov 1997 |
|
8 | 1966 (VMI) | 31 | (1945– ) | |
153 | Charles T. Robertson, Jr. | 1 Sep 1998 |
|
3 | 1968 (USAFA) | 30 | (1946– ) | |
154 | Patrick K. Gamble | 1 Oct 1998 |
|
3 | 1967 (Texas A&M) | 31 | (1945– ) President, University of Alaska System, 2010–present. | |
* | Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. | 9 Dec 1998 |
|
0 | 1936 (USMA) | 62 | (1912–2002)[16] Director of Aviation Security, 1970–1971; U.S. Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Safety and Consumer Affairs, 1971–1975. | |
155 | Lester Lyles | 1 Jul 1999 |
|
4 | 1968 (AFROTC) | 31 | (1946– ) Director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, 1996–1999. | |
156 | Gregory S. Martin | 1 Jun 2000 |
|
5 | 1970 (USAFA) | 30 | (1948– )[17] | |
157 | John W. Handy | 1 Jul 2000 |
|
5 | 1967 (OTS) | 33 | (1944– ) | |
158 | Hal M. Hornburg | 1 Aug 2000 |
|
4 | 1968 (Texas A&M) | 32 | (1945– ) | |
159 | Charles R. Holland | 1 Dec 2000 |
|
3 | 1968 (USAFA) | 32 | (1946– ) | |
160 | William J. Begert | 1 May 2001 |
|
3 | 1968 (USAFA) | 33 | (1946– ) | |
161 | Robert H. Foglesong | 5 Nov 2001 |
|
4 | 1972 (AFROTC) | 29 | (1945– ) President, Mississippi State University, 2006–2008. | |
162 | Donald G. Cook | 17 Dec 2001 |
|
4 | 1969 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1946– ) | |
163 | Lance W. Lord | 19 Apr 2002 |
|
4 | 1968 (AFROTC) | 34 | (1946– ) | |
164 | Charles F. Wald | 1 Jan 2003 |
|
4 | 1971 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1948– ) | |
165 | T. Michael Moseley | 1 Oct 2003 |
|
5 | 1971 (Texas A&M) | 32 | (1949– ) Resigned, 2008. | |
166 | Paul V. Hester | 1 Aug 2004 |
|
3 | 1971 (AFROTC) | 33 | (1947– ) | |
167 | Michael V. Hayden | 21 Apr 2005 |
|
4 | 1969 (AFROTC) | 36 | (1945– )[19] Director, National Security Agency, 1999–2005. | |
168 | Ronald Keys | 27 May 2005 |
|
2 | 1967 (AFROTC) | 38 | (1945– ) | |
169 | William R. Looney III | 1 Aug 2005 |
|
3 | 1972 (USAFA) | 33 | (1949– ) | |
170 | Bruce A. Carlson | 1 Sep 2005 |
|
3 | 1971 (AFROTC) | 34 | (1949– ) Director, National Reconnaissance Office, 2009–present. | |
171 | Norton A. Schwartz | 1 Oct 2005 |
|
7 | 1973 (USAFA) | 32 | (1951– ) | |
172 | John D. W. Corley | 1 Nov 2005 |
|
4 | 1973 (USAFA) | 32 | (1951– ) | |
173 | Lance L. Smith | 7 Nov 2005 |
|
2 | 1970 (OTS) | 35 | (1946– ) | |
174 | Duncan McNabb | 1 Dec 2005 |
|
6 | 1974 (USAFA) | 31 | (1952– ) | |
175 | William T. Hobbins | 1 Feb 2006 |
|
2 | 1969 (OTS) | 37 | (1946– ) | |
176 | Kevin P. Chilton | 26 Jun 2006 |
|
5 | 1976 (USAFA) | 30 | (1954– ) First astronaut to attain rank of general. | |
177 | Victor E. Renuart, Jr. | 23 Mar 2007 |
|
3 | 1972 (OTS) | 35 | (1949– ) | |
178 | Arthur Lichte | 7 Sep 2007 |
|
2 | 1971 (AFROTC) | 36 | (1949– ) | |
179 | C. Robert Kehler | 12 Oct 2007 |
|
6 | 1975 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1952– ) | |
180 | Carrol Chandler | 30 Nov 2007 |
|
4 | 1974 (USAFA) | 33 | (1952– ) | |
181 | Roger A. Brady | 9 Jan 2008 |
|
2 | 1968 (AFROTC) | 40 | (1946– ) | |
182 | Stephen R. Lorenz | 2 Jul 2008 |
|
2 | 1973 (USAFA) | 35 | (1951– ) | |
183 | William M. Fraser III | 9 Oct 2008 |
|
6 | 1974 (Texas A&M) | 34 | (1952– )[20] | |
184 | Craig R. McKinley | 17 Nov 2008 |
|
4 | 1974 (AFROTC) | 34 | (1952– ) | |
185 | Donald J. Hoffman | 21 Nov 2008 |
|
4 | 1974 (USAFA) | 34 | (1952– ) | |
186 | Douglas M. Fraser | 25 Jun 2009 |
|
3 | 1975 (USAFA) | 34 | (1953– ) | |
187 | Gary L. North | 19 Aug 2009 |
|
3 | 1976 (AFROTC) | 33 | (1954– ) | |
188 | Raymond E. Johns, Jr. | 20 Nov 2009 |
|
3 | 1977 (USAFA) | 32 | (1954– ) | |
189 | Edward A. Rice Jr. | 17 Nov 2010 |
|
3 | 1978 (USAFA) | 32 | (1956– ) | |
190 | Mark A. Welsh III | 13 Dec 2010 |
|
6 | 1976 (USAFA) | 34 | (1953– ) | |
191 | William L. Shelton | 5 Jan 2011 |
|
3 | 1976 (USAFA) | 35 | (1953– ) | |
192 | Philip M. Breedlove | 14 Jan 2011 |
|
5 | 1977 (AFROTC) | 34 | (1955– ) | |
193 | Gilmary M. Hostage III | 13 Sep 2011 |
|
3 | 1977 (AFROTC) | 34 | (1955– ) | |
194 | Janet C. Wolfenbarger | 5 Jun 2012 |
|
3 | 1980 (USAFA) | 32 | (1958– ) First woman to achieve the rank of general in the Air Force. | |
195 | Larry O. Spencer | 27 Jul 2012 |
|
3 | 1980 (OTS) | 32 | (1954– ) Served nine years in the enlisted ranks before receiving his commission in 1980. | |
196 | Herbert J. Carlisle | 2 Aug 2012 |
|
4 | 1978 (USAFA) | 34 | (1957– ) | |
197 | Paul J. Selva | 29 Nov 2012 |
|
4 | 1980 (USAFA) | 32 | (1958– ) | |
198 | Frank Gorenc | 2 Aug 2013 |
|
3 | 1979 (USAFA) | 34 | (1957– ) | |
199 | Robin Rand | 10 Oct 2013 |
|
3 | 1979 (USAFA) | 34 | (1958– ) | |
200 | Darren W. McDew | 5 May 2014 |
|
2 | 1982 (VMI) | 32 | (1961– ) | |
201 | John E. Hyten | 15 Aug 2014 |
|
2 | 1981 (AFROTC) | 33 | (1959– ) | |
202 | Lori J. Robinson | 16 Oct 2014 |
|
2 | 1981 (AFROTC) | 33 | (1959– ) | |
203 | Ellen M. Pawlikowski | 08 Jun 2015 |
|
1 | 1978 (AFROTC) | 37 | (1956– ) | |
204 | Carlton D. Everhart II | 11 Aug 2015 |
|
1 | 1983 (Virginia Tech) | 32 | (1961– ) | |
205 | David L. Goldfein | 17 Aug 2015 |
|
1 | 1983 (USAFA) | 32 | (1959– ) | |
206 | Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy | 12 Jul 2016 |
|
0 | 1986 (USAFA) | 30 | (19??– ) | |
207 | Stephen W. Wilson | 22 Jul 2016 |
|
0 | 1981 (Texas A&M) | 35 | (1959/1960– ) | |
208 | Joseph L. Lengyel | 03 Aug 2016 |
|
0 | 1981 (AFROTC) | 35 | (1959– ) | |
209 | Tod D. Wolters | 11 Aug 2016 |
|
0 | 1982 (USAFA) | 34 | (c.1961– ) | |
210 | John W. Raymond | 25 Oct 2016 |
|
0 | 1984 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1962– ) | |
Timeline
Four-star positions
1940 – present
The modern rank of general was established by the Officer Personnel Act of 1947, which authorized the President to designate certain positions of importance to carry that rank. Officers appointed to such positions bear temporary four-star rank while so serving, and are allowed to retire at that rank if their performance is judged satisfactory.[21] The total number of active-duty four-star generals in the Air Force is limited to a fixed percentage of the number of Air Force general officers serving at all ranks.[22]
Within the Air Force, the chief of staff (CSAF) and vice chief of staff (VCSAF) are four-star generals by statute. Other four-star generals occupy positions of designated importance; historically, these have included the commanders responsible for strategic bombers and nuclear missiles (SAC/STRATCOM); tactical air combat (TAC/ACC); air transport (MAC/TRANSCOM); North American aerospace defense (NORAD); the Air Force formations in Europe and the Pacific; and other training, readiness, and materiel organizations.
The Air Force also competes with the other services for a number of joint four-star positions, such as the chairman (CJCS) and vice chairman (VCJCS) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other joint four-star positions have included unified combatant commanders and certain NATO staff positions.
Notes
- ↑ Dates of rank are taken, where available, from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force registers of active and retired commissioned officers, or from the World Almanac and Book of Facts. The date listed is that of the officer's first promotion to general.
- ↑ Positions listed are those held by the officer when promoted to general. Dates listed are for the officer's full tenure, which may predate promotion to four-star rank or postdate retirement from active duty.
- 1 2 The number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank is approximated by subtracting the year in the "Date of rank" column from the last year in the "Position" column. Time spent between active-duty four-star assignments is not counted, nor is time spent on special duty as an unassigned general of the Army or general of the Air Force.
- ↑ Sources of commission are listed in parentheses after the year of commission and include: the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA); the United States Military Academy (USMA); the United States Naval Academy (USNA); Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at a civilian university; Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at a civilian university; ROTC or AFROTC at a senior military college such as Texas A&M University (Texas A&M), the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), or Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI); Air Force Officer Training School (OTS); Officer Candidate School (OCS); the aviation cadet program (cadet); the Army National Guard (ARNG); the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF); and direct commission (direct).
- 1 2 The number of years in commission before being promoted to four-star rank is approximated by subtracting the year in the "Commission" column from the year in the "Date of rank" column.
- ↑ Notes include years of birth and death; awards of the Medal of Honor, Congressional Gold Medal, Presidential Medal of Freedom, or honors of similar significance; major government appointments; university presidencies or equivalents; familial relationships with other four-star officers or significant government officials such as U.S. Presidents, cabinet secretaries, U.S. Senators, or state governors; and unusual career events such as premature relief or death in office.
- ↑ Nomination as chairman, Civil Aeronautics Board withdrawn, 1948.
- ↑ Retired as general, 31 July 1961; recalled as general, Sep 1961; retired as general, 30 Apr 1965.
- ↑ Relieved, Apr 1972, and retired as major general.
- ↑ Appointed Commander, Military Airlift Command (COMAC), effective 12 September 1972; died in air crash, 9 Sep 1972; posthumously promoted to general with date of rank 16 Aug 1972.
- ↑ Transferred from Royal Canadian Air Force, 1943.
- ↑ Transferred from Army National Guard, 1952.
- ↑ Transferred from Signal Corps Reserve, 1920; resigned, 1930; recalled 1940; reverted to inactive reserve, 1946; retired as lieutenant general, Feb 1959; advanced to general on the retired list, 4 April 1985.
- ↑ Retired as major general, Aug 1947; advanced to lieutenant general on the retired list, 29 June 1948; advanced to general on the retired list, 26 Apr 1985.
- ↑ Nomination as Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) withdrawn, 1995.
- ↑ Retired as lieutenant general, Feb 1970; advanced to general on the retired list, 9 December 1998.
- ↑ Nomination as Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM) withdrawn, 2004.
- ↑ Hayden continued serving as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency as a civilian for a year after retiring from the Air Force in 2008.
- ↑ Retired as general, 1 July 2008; remained Director, Central Intelligence Agency (DCIA) as civilian.
- ↑ First nomination as Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (CDRUSTRANSCOM) withdrawn, 2008.
- ↑ 10 USC 601, Positions of importance and responsibility: generals and lieutenant generals; admirals and vice admirals
- ↑ 10 USC 525, Distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general officer and flag officer grades
References
- Air Force Association (May 2006), "USAF Almanac 2006" (PDF), Air Force Magazine, 89 (5)
- Cole, Ronald H.; Poole, Walter S.; Schnabel, James F.; Watson, Robert J.; Webb, Willard J. (1995), The History of the Unified Command Plan, 1946–1993 (PDF), Washington D.C.: Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Senior officials in the NATO military structure, from 1949 to 2001 (PDF)
- United States Air Force, Air Force Link – Biographies
- United States Air Force (1951–1970, 1972, 1974, 1979), Air Force Register, Washington D.C.: Department of the Air Force Check date values in:
|date=
(help)
- World Almanac and Book of Facts, New York: World Almanac Education Group, Inc., 1946–1947, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2006 Check date values in:
|date=
(help); Missing or empty|title=
(help)
See also
- General (United States)
- List of active duty United States four-star officers
- List of United States Army four-star generals
- List of United States Coast Guard four-star admirals
- List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals
- List of United States military leaders by rank
- List of United States Navy four-star admirals
- List of United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps four-star admirals
- List of Royal Air Force air chief marshals
- List of lieutenant generals in the United States Air Force before 1960