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 131 lieutenant generals in the U.S. Air Force from 2010 to 2019, 33 of whom were elevated to four-star general. All 131 achieved that rank while on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. Lieutenant generals entered the Air Force via several paths: 61 were commissioned via the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), 44 via Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at a civilian university, 13 via Air Force Officer Training School (OTS), seven via AFROTC at a senior military college, five via direct commission (direct), and one via direct commission inter-service transfer from the Army National Guard (ARNG).
List of generals 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, active-duty positions held while serving at three-star rank, number of years of active-duty service at three-star rank (Yrs), year commissioned and source of commission, number of years in commission when promoted to three-star rank (YC), and other biographical notes (years of birth and death are shown in parentheses in the Notes column). 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.
+ List of U.S. Air Force lieutenant generals from 2010 to 2019 # Name Photo Position Yrs Commission YC Notes 1 Richard C. Harding 2 Feb 2010 Judge Advocate General, U.S. Air Force (AF/JA), 2010–2014. 4 1980 (direct) 30 (1947–) * Larry O. Spencer 3 Apr 2010 Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, Joint Staff, J8, 2010–2012. 2 1980 (OTS) 30 (1954–) Promoted to general, 27 Jul 2012. Served 9 years in the enlisted ranks before receiving his commission in 1980. 2 Eric E. Fiel 11 Jun 2010 Vice Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (VCDRUSSOCOM), 2010–2011. Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (COMAFSOC), 2011–2014. 4 1981 (OTS) 29 (1958–) 3 Frank J. Kisner 26 Jul 2010 Commander, NATO Special Operations Headquarters (CDRNSHQ), 2010–2013. 3 1980 (USAFA) 30 4 Stephen P. Mueller 6 Sep 2010 Vice Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (VCOMUSAFE), 2010–2012. Inspector General, U.S. Air Force (AF/IG), 2012–2014. 4 1979 (USAFA) 31 (1960–) 5 Douglas H. Owens 9 Sep 2010 Vice Commander, Air Education and Training Command (VCOMAETC), 2010–2013. 3 1980 (USAFA) 30 6 Michael R. Moeller 7 Oct 2010 U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (USSC), 2010–2012. Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Programs, Air Staff (DCS A5/8), 2012–2014. 4 1980 (USAFA) 30 7 Burton M. Field 25 Oct 2010 Commander, U.S. Forces Japan/Commander, Fifth Air Force (COMUSFJ), 2010–2012. Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements, Air Staff (DCS A3), 2012–2014. 4 1979 (USAFA) 31 (–) 8 Kurt A. Cichowski 16 Nov 2010 Associate Director, Military Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency (ADMA), 2010–2013. 3 1977 (USAFA) 33 (1955–) 9 Stanley T. Kresge 10 Dec 2010 Commander, Thirteenth Air Force (Air Forces Pacific)/Commander, Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica (CDRJTF-SFA), 2010–2012. Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces (VCOMPACAF), 2012–2014. 4 1980 (USAFA) 30 10 Darrell D. Jones 14 Dec 2010 Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Air Staff (DCS A1), 2010–2013. 3 1979 (AFROTC) 31 11 James M. Kowalski 6 Jan 2011 Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command (COMAFGSC), 2011–2013. Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (DCDRUSSTRATCOM), 2013–2015. 4 1980 (AFROTC) 31 (1957–) 12 Susan J. Helms 21 Jan 2011 Commander, Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic)/Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space (COMAFSTRAT/CDRJFCC Space), 2011–2014. 3 1980 (USAFA) 31 (1958–) 13 Michael J. Basla 2 Mar 2011 Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command (VCOMAFSPC), 2009–2012. Chief, Information Dominance/Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/CIO A6), 2012–2014. 3 1979 (OTS) 32 (1952–) * Ellen M. Pawlikowski 3 Jun 2011 Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center/Program Executive Officer, Space (COMSMC/PEO Space), 2011–2014. Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (MILDEP SAF/AQ), 2014–2015. 4 1978 (AFROTC) 33 (1956–) Promoted to general, 8 Jun 2015. 14 Bradley A. Heithold 19 Jul 2011 Vice Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (VCDRUSSOCOM), 2011–2014. Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (COMAFSOC), 2014–2016. Principal Deputy Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2016–2018. 7 1981 (AFROTC) 30 (1956–) Served 7 years in the enlisted ranks before receiving his commission in 1981. * David L. Goldfein 3 Aug 2011 Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command/Combined Forces Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command (COMUSAFCENT/CFACC), 2011–2013. Director, Joint Staff (DJS), 2013–2015. 4 1983 (USAFA) 28 (1959–) Promoted to general, 17 Aug 2015. Brother of Air Force major general Stephen M. Goldfein. 15 David S. Fadok 12 Aug 2011 Commander/President, Air University (COM/Pres. AU), 2011–2014. 3 1982 (USAFA) 29 16 Stanley E. Clarke III 31 Aug 2011 Commander, First Air Force (Air Forces Northern)/Commander, Continental U.S. NORAD Region (COMAFNORTH/CDRCONR), 2011–2013. Director, Air National Guard (DIRANG), 2013–2015. 4 1981 (AFROTC) 30 17 Charles R. Davis 1 Sep 2011 Commander, Electronic Systems Center/Program Executive Officer, Command and Control and Combat Support (COMESC/PEO C2S), 2011–2012. Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (MILDEP SAF/AQ), 2012–2014. 3 1979 (USAFA) 32 18 Brooks L. Bash 9 Sep 2011 Director, Logistics, Joint Staff, J4, 2011–2013. Vice Commander, Air Mobility Command (VCOMAMC), 2013–2015. 4 1981 (USAFA) 30 19 Mark F. Ramsay 23 Sep 2011 Commander, Eighteenth Air Force (Air Forces Transportation), 2011–2012. Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, Joint Staff, J8, 2012–2015. 4 1982 (OTS) 29 (–) 20 C. D. Moore II 3 Oct 2011 Vice Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (VCOMAFMC), 2011–2012. Commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (COMAFLCMC), 2012–2014. 3 1980 (USAFA) 31 (1958–) 21 Stephen L. Hoog 7 Nov 2011 Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region/Commander, Alaskan Command/Commander, Eleventh Air Force (CDRANR/CDRALCOM), 2011–2013. Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force/Director, Air Staff, U.S. Air Force (AVCSAF/AF/DS), 2013–2015. 4 1979 (USAFA) 32 22 John W. Hesterman III 17 Nov 2011 Military Deputy for Readiness to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (MILDEP USD(P&R)), 2011–2013. Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command/Combined Forces Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command (COMUSAFCENT/CFACC), 2013–2015. Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force/Director, Air Staff, U.S. Air Force (AVCSAF/AF/DS), 2015–2016. 5 1983 (USAFA) 28 (–) Relieved, 2016. * Robin Rand 1 Dec 2011 Commander, Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern), 2011–2013. 2 1979 (USAFA) 32 (1957–) Promoted to general, 10 Oct 2013. 23 Judith A. Fedder 5 Dec 2011 Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Air Staff (DCS A4/7), 2011–2015. 4 1980 (AFROTC) 31 (1958–) 24 Jan-Marc Jouas 6 Jan 2012 Deputy Commander, United Nations Command/Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces Korea/Commander, Air Component Command, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command/Commander, Seventh Air Force (DCDRUNC/DCDRUSFK/AIRCDRCFC), 2012–2014. 2 1979 (USAFA) 33 25 Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr. 11 Jan 2012 Director, Defense Information Systems Agency (DIRDISA), 2012–2015. Director, Defense Information Systems Agency/Commander, Joint Force Headquarters – Department of Defense Information Network (DIRDISA/CDRJFHQ-DoDIN), 2015. 3 1977 (AFROTC) 35 (1955–) President, Angelo State University, 2020–present. 26 Craig A. Franklin 30 Mar 2012 Commander, Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe)/Commander, Seventeenth Expeditionary Air Force, 2012–2014. 2 1981 (USAFA) 31 (–) Resigned, 2014. * John E. Hyten 18 May 2012 Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command (VCOMAFSPC), 2012–2014. 2 1981 (AFROTC) 31 (1959–) Promoted to general, 15 Aug 2014. 27 Bruce A. Litchfield 10 Jul 2012 Commander, Air Force Sustainment Center (COMAFSC), 2012–2015. 3 1981 (Norwich) 31 28 Thomas W. Travis 13 Jul 2012 Surgeon General, U.S. Air Force (AF/SG), 2012–2015. 3 1976 (Virginia Tech) 36 (1953–) Senior Vice President, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2016–2021. 29 Salvatore A. Angelella 20 Jul 2012 Commander, U.S. Forces Japan/Commander, Fifth Air Force (COMUSFJ), 2012–2015. 3 1981 (USAFA) 31 (–) 30 Andrew E. Busch 20 Jul 2012 Vice Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (VCOMAFMC), 2012–2014. Director, Defense Logistics Agency (DIRDLA), 2014–2017. 5 1979 (USAFA) 33 31 James F. Jackson 30 Jul 2012 Chief, Air Force Reserve/Commander, Air Force Reserve Command (CAFR/COMAFRC), 2012–2016. 4 1978 (USAFA) 34 (1948–) 32 Noel T. Jones 3 Aug 2012 Vice Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (VCOMUSAFE), 2012–2015. 3 1980 (USAFA) 32 * Darren W. McDew 6 Aug 2012 Commander, Eighteenth Air Force (Air Forces Transportation), 2012–2014. 2 1982 (VMI) 30 (1960–) Promoted to general, 5 May 2014. 33 Michael D. Dubie 14 Aug 2012 Deputy Commander, U.S. Northern Command/Vice Commander, U.S. Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command (DCDRUSNORTHCOM/VCDRNORAD), 2012–2015. 3 1982 (ARNG) 30 (1960–) * Joseph L. Lengyel 18 Aug 2012 Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau (VCNGB), 2012–2016. 4 1981 (AFROTC) 31 (1959–) Promoted to general, 3 Aug 2016. 34 Christopher C. Bogdan 6 Dec 2012 Program Executive Officer, F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (PEO F-35), 2012–2017. 5 1983 (USAFA) 29 35 Gregory A. Biscone 12 Jan 2013 Commander, Office of the Defense Representative, U.S. Embassy Pakistan, 2013–2014. Inspector General, U.S. Air Force (AF/IG), 2014–2016. 3 1981 (USAFA) 32 36 William H. Etter 7 Mar 2013 Commander, First Air Force (Air Forces Northern)/Commander, Continental U.S. NORAD Region (COMAFNORTH/CDRCONR), 2013–2016. 3 1979 (AFROTC) 34 (–) * Lori J. Robinson 20 May 2013 Vice Commander, Air Combat Command (VCOMACC), 2013–2014. 1 1981 (AFROTC) 32 (–) Promoted to general, 16 Oct 2014. 37 Robert P. Otto 24 Jun 2013 Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, Air Staff (DCS A2), 2013–2016. 3 1982 (USAFA) 31 * James M. Holmes 2 Aug 2013 Vice Commander, Air Education and Training Command (VCOMAETC), 2013–2014. Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Requirements, Air Staff (DCS A5/8), 2014–2017. 4 1981 (OTS) 32 (1957–) Promoted to general, 10 Mar 2017. 38 Russell J. Handy 9 Aug 2013 Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region/Commander, Alaskan Command/Commander, Eleventh Air Force (CDRANR/CDRALCOM), 2013–2016.