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 were 117 lieutenant generals in the U.S. Air Force from 2000 to 2009, 31 of whom were elevated to four-star general. All 117 achieved that rank while on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. Lieutenant generals entered the Air Force via several paths: 55 were commissioned via the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), 36 via Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at a civilian university, 16 via Air Force Officer Training School (OTS), seven via AFROTC at a senior military college, and three via direct commission (direct).
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).
+ List of U.S. Air Force lieutenant generals from 2000 to 2009 # Name Photo Position Yrs Commission YC Notes * Charles F. Wald 12 Jan 2000 Commander, Ninth Air Force/Commander, U.S. Central Command Air Forces (COMUSCENTAF), 2000–2001. Deputy Chief of Staff, Air and Space Operations, Air Staff (DCS A3), 2001–2002. 2 1971 (AFROTC) 29 (1948–) Promoted to general, 1 Jan 2003. * Norton A. Schwartz 18 Jan 2000 Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command (DCINCSOC), 2000. Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region/Commander, Alaskan Command/Commander, Eleventh Air Force (CDRANR/CDRALCOM), 2000–2002. Director, Operations, Joint Staff, J3, 2002–2004. Director, Joint Staff (DJS), 2004–2005. 5 1973 (USAFA) 27 Promoted to general, 1 Oct 2005. President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 2020–present. * Bruce A. Carlson 1 Feb 2000 Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, Joint Staff, J8, 2000–2002. Commander, Eighth Air Force/Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike (JFCC SGS), 2002–2005. 5 1971 (AFROTC) 29 (1949–) Promoted to general, 1 Sep 2005. Director, National Reconnaissance Office, 2009–2012. 1 Charles H. Coolidge Jr. 7 Feb 2000 Vice Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (VCOMAFMC), 2000–2003. 3 1968 (USAFA) 32 (1946–) Son of Medal of Honor recipient Charles H. Coolidge. 2 Stephen B. Plummer 1 May 2000 Principal Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition/Military Director, U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, 2000–2003. 3 1969 (OTS) 31 (1946–) * Ronald E. Keys 1 Jul 2000 Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe/Commander, Stabilisation Forces Air Component and Kosovo Forces Air Component/Commander, Sixteenth Air Force and Sixteenth Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force (COMAIRSOUTH/COMAIRSFOR/COMAIRKFOR), 2000–2002. Deputy Chief of Staff, Air and Space Operations, Air Staff (DCS A3), 2002–2005. 5 1967 (AFROTC) 33 (1945–) Promoted to general, 27 May 2005. 3 Harry D. Raduege Jr. 1 Jul 2000 Director, Defense Information Systems Agency/Manager, National Communications System (DIRDISA/MNCS), 2000–2003. Director, Defense Information Systems Agency (DIRDISA), 2003–2004. Director, Defense Information Systems Agency/Commander, Joint Task Force – Global Network Operations/Deputy Commander, Global Network Operations and Defense, U.S. Strategic Command Joint Forces Headquarters – Information Operations (DIRDISA/CDRJTF-GNO/DCDR GNO-Def), 2004–2005. 5 1970 (AFROTC) 30 (1947–) 4 Robert C. Hinson 1 Jul 2000 Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command (DCINCSTRAT), 2000–2002. Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command (VCOMAFSPC), 2002–2003. 3 1971 (OTS) 29 (1947–) Executive Director, National Security Research Institute at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2012–2020. 5 Michael E. Zettler 1 Jul 2000 Deputy Chief of Staff, Installations and Logistics, Air Staff (DCS A4), 2000–2003. 3 1970 (AFROTC) 30 (1948–) 6 John R. Dallager 1 Aug 2000 Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 2000–2003. 3 1969 (USAFA) 31 (1947–) Resigned, 2003. * William T. Hobbins 1 Oct 2000 Commander, Twelfth Air Force/Commander, U.S. Southern Command Air Forces/Air Force Component Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (COMSOUTHAF/AIRCDRUSSTRATCOM), 2000–2002. Commander, Twelfth Air Force/Commander, U.S. Southern Command Air Forces (COMSOUTHAF), 2002–2003. Deputy Chief of Staff, Warfighting Integration, Air Staff (DCS A6), 2003–2005. Deputy Chief of Staff, Warfighting Integration, Air Staff/Chief of Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (DCS A6/CIO), 2005. 5 1969 (OTS) 31 (1946–) Promoted to general, 1 Feb 2006. 7 Tome H. Walters Jr. 1 Oct 2000 Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DIRDSCA), 2000–2004. 4 1970 (USAFA) 30 (1948–) 8 Joseph H. Wehrle Jr. 1 Oct 2000 Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Air Staff (DCS A5/8), 2000–2002. Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (AVCSAF), 2002–2003. 3 1970 (USMA) 30 (1948–) 9 John H. Campbell 6 Oct 2000 Associate Director of Central Intelligence, Military Support, Central Intelligence Agency (ADCI/MS), 2000–2003. 3 1969 (AFROTC) 31 (1947–) 10 Raymond P. Huot 1 Dec 2000 Inspector General, U.S. Air Force (AF/IG), 2000–2003. 3 1967 (AFROTC) 33 (1945–) 11 Glen W. Moorhead III 1 Dec 2000 Vice Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (VCOMUSAFE), 2000–2002. Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe/Commander, Stabilisation Forces Air Component and Kosovo Forces Air Component/Commander, Sixteenth Air Force and Sixteenth Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force (COMAIRSOUTH/COMAIRSFOR/COMAIRKFOR), 2002–2004. Commander, Allied Air Component Command İzmir/Commander, Stabilisation Forces Air Component and Kosovo Forces Air Component/Commander, Sixteenth Air Force and Sixteenth Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force (COMAIR-COM İzmir/COMAIRSFOR/COMAIRKFOR), 2004. Commander, Allied Air Component Command İzmir/Commander, European Union Force Bosnia and Herzegovina/Commander, Kosovo Forces Air Component/Commander, Sixteenth Air Force and Sixteenth Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force (COMAIR-COM İzmir/COMEUFOR/COMAIRKFOR), 2004–2006. 6 1969 (USAFA) 31 (1946–) 12 John D. Hopper Jr. 1 Jan 2001 Vice Commander, Air Education and Training Command (VCOMAETC), 2000–2005. 5 1969 (USAFA) 32 (1946–) 13 Donald A. Lamontagne 1 May 2001 Commander, Air University/Director of Education, Air Education and Training Command (COMAU/Edu. AETC), 2001–2004. 3 1969 (Texas A&M) 32 (1947–) 14 James E. Sherrard III 24 May 2001 Chief, Air Force Reserve/Commander, Air Force Reserve Command (CAFR/COMAFRC), 1998–2004. 3 1965 (AFROTC) 36 (1943–) 15 Brian A. Arnold 1 Jul 2001 Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center (COMSMC), 2001–2005. 4 1973 (OTS) 28 (1946–) 16 Richard V. Reynolds 1 Aug 2001 Commander, Aeronautical Systems Center (COMASC), 2001–2003. Vice Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (VCOMAFMC), 2003–2005. 4 1971 (USAFA) 30 (1949–) 17 Timothy A. Kinnan 1 Sep 2001 U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 2001–2004. 3 1970 (USAFA) 31 (1948–) 18 Richard E. Brown III 1 Oct 2001 Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Air Staff (DCS A1), 2001–2004. Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (AVCSAF), 2004. 3 1970 (AFROTC) 31 (1948–) * T. Michael Moseley 7 Nov 2001 Commander, Ninth Air Force/Commander, U.S. Central Command Air Forces (COMUSCENTAF), 2001–2003. 2 1971 (Texas A&M) 30 (1949–) Promoted to general, 1 Oct 2003. 19 Thomas C. Waskow 1 Dec 2001 Commander, U.S. Forces Japan/Commander, Fifth Air Force (COMUSFJ), 2001–2005. 4 1970 (USAFA) 31 (1947–) 20 Bruce A. Wright 10 Dec 2001 Vice Commander, Air Combat Command (VCOMACC), 2001–2005. Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 2004–2005. Commander, U.S. Forces Japan/Commander, Fifth Air Force (COMUSFJ), 2005–2008. 7 1973 (USAFA) 28 (1951–) * Lance L. Smith 1 Jan 2002 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), 2001–2003. Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command (DCDRUSCENTCOM), 2003–2005. 3 1970 (OTS) 32 (1946–) Promoted to general, 7 Nov 2005. 21 Steven R. Polk 1 Mar 2002 Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces (VCOMPACAF), 2002–2003. Inspector General, U.S. Air Force (AF/IG), 2003–2006. 4 1968 (USAFA) 34 (1947–) 22 John R. Baker 1 Apr 2002 Vice Commander, Air Mobility Command (VCOMAMC), 2002–2005. 3 1972 (AFROTC) 30 (1948–) 23 Thomas B. Goslin Jr. 18 Apr 2002 Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command (DCINCSTRAT), 2002. Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (DCDRUSSTRATCOM), 2002–2005. 3 1970 (OTS) 32 (1950–) * Duncan J. McNabb 19 Apr 2002 Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Air Staff (DCS A5/8), 2002–2004. Director, Logistics, Joint Staff, J4, 2004–2005. 3 1974 (USAFA) 28 (1952–) Promoted to general, 1 Dec 2005. * William R. Looney III 1 Jun 2002 Commander, Electronic Systems Center (COMESC), 2002–2003. Commander, Aeronautical Systems Center/Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Procurement and Modernization (COMASC/PEO Aircraft), 2003–2005. 3 1972 (USAFA) 30 (1949–) Promoted to general, 1 Aug 2005. 24 Daniel James III 3 Jun 2002 Director, Air National Guard (DIRANG), 2002–2006. 4 1968 (AFROTC) 34 (1945–2017) Son of Air Force four-star general Daniel James Jr. First African-American to lead the Air National Guard. 25 Robert R. Dierker 8 Aug 2002 Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (DCINCPAC), 2002. Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (DCDRUSPACOM), 2002–2004. 2 1972 (USAFA) 30 (1950–) * Carrol H. Chandler 1 Nov 2002 Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region/Commander, Alaskan Command/Commander, Eleventh Air Force (CDRANR/CDRALCOM), 2002–2003. Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region/Commander, Alaskan Command/Commander, Joint Task Force-Alaska/Commander, Eleventh Air Force (CDRANR/CDRALCOM/CDRJTF-AK), 2003–2005. Deputy Chief of Staff, Air and Space Operations, Air Staff (DCS A3), 2005–2006. Deputy Chief of Staff, Air, Space and Information Operations, Plans and Requirements, Air Staff (DCS A3), 2006–2007. Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements, Air Staff (DCS A3), 2007. 5 1974 (USAFA) 28 (1952–) Promoted to general, 30 Nov 2007. 26 George P. Taylor Jr. 1 Dec 2002 Surgeon General, U.S. Air Force (AF/SG), 2002–2006. 4 1979 (direct) 23 (1953–) * Arthur J. Lichte 1 Jan 2003 Vice Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (VCOMUSAFE), 2002–2005. Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (AVCSAF), 2005–2007. 4 1971 (AFROTC) 32 (1949–) Promoted to general, 7 Sep 2007. 27 Michael M. Dunn 1 Sep 2003 President, National Defense University (P-NDU), 2003–2006. 3 1972 (USAFA) 31 (1950–) 28 John W. Rosa Jr. 1 Sep 2003 Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 2003–2005. 2 1973 (Citadel) 30 (1951–) President, The Citadel, 2006–2018. 29 Daniel P. Leaf 1 Sep 2003 Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command (VCOMAFSPC), 2003–2005. Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (DCDRUSPACOM), 2005–2008. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM), 2007. 5 1974 (AFROTC) 29 (1952–) 30 Randall M. Schmidt 1 Sep 2003 Commander, Twelfth Air Force/Commander, U.S. Southern Command Air Forces (COMSOUTHAF), 2003–2005.