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List of United States Air Force four-star generals

The rank of general (or full general, or four-star general) is the highest rank normally achievable in the United States Air Force. It ranks above lieutenant general (three-star general) and below general of the Air Force (five-star general).

Flag of an Air Force
four-star general

There have been 237 four-star generals in the history of the U.S. Air Force. Of these, 233 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: 63 were commissioned via the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), 49 via the aviation cadet program, 47 via the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), 44 via Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at a civilian university, 13 via AFROTC at a senior military college, nine via Air Force Officer Training School (OTS), four via the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), four via Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at a civilian university, two via direct commission (direct), one via direct commission inter-service transfer from the Army National Guard (ARNG), and one via direct commission inter-service transfer from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

List of generals

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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 (years of birth and death are shown in parentheses in the Notes column).[6]

# Name Photo Date of rank Position Yrs[3] Commission YC[5] Notes
1 Henry H. Arnold
 
 19 Mar 1943   1 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 C. 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 S. 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 E. 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)[9] 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)[10] Awarded Medal of Honor, 1943. Daughter married son of Air Force four-star general Hoyt S. Vandenberg.
21 Charles P. Cabell
 
 11 Jul 1958[11] 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 Jr.
 
 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 (1916–2016)
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)[12] 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  
  • (posthumous)
 0 1942 (cadet) 30 (1921–1972)[14]
64 Paul K. Carlton
 
 9 Oct 1972   5 1942 (cadet) 30 (1921–2009)
65 George J. Eade
 
 18 Apr 1973   2 1942 (cadet) 31 (1921–2018)
66 Samuel C. Phillips
 
 1 Aug 1973   2 1942 (ROTC) 31 (1921–1990) Director, National Security Agency, 1972–1973.
67 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.
68 Robert J. Dixon
 
 1 Oct 1973   5 1942 (RCAF) 31 (1920–2003)[15]
69 Timothy F. O'Keefe
 
 8 Oct 1973   1 1940 (cadet) 33 (1919–1984)
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 (1922–2022)
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   3 1943 (cadet) 32 (1920–1978) First African-American to achieve four-star rank in any service.
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 Jr.
 
 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 (1929–2020)[16]
91 Charles A. Gabriel
 
 1 Aug 1980   6 1950 (USMA) 30 (1928–2003)
92 Robert T. Marsh
 
 1 Feb 1981   3 1949 (USMA) 32 (1925–2017)
93 Thomas M. Ryan Jr.
 
 31 Jul 1981   4 1950 (cadet) 31 (1928–2024)
94 James P. Mullins
 
 1 Aug 1981   3 1949 (cadet) 32 (born 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 (born 1927)
99 James E. Dalton
 
 1 Aug 1983   2 1954 (USMA) 29 (1930–2024)
100 Lawrence A. Skantze
 
 6 Oct 1983   4 1952 (USNA) 31 (1928–2018)
101 Larry D. Welch
 
 1 Aug 1984   6 1953 (cadet) 31 (born 1934) President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 1990–2003, 2006–2009.
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 (1930–2023)
* James H. Doolittle
 
 4 Apr 1985  
  • (retired)
 0 1918 (cadet) 67 (1896–1993)[17] 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  
  • (retired)
 0 1917 (direct) 68 (1896–1987)[18] 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 (1934–2021) U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Politico-Military Affairs, 1984–1985.
108 John L. Piotrowski
 
 1 Aug 1985   5 1954 (cadet) 31 (born 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 (1929–2017)
111 Thomas C. Richards
 
 1 Dec 1986   3 1956 (VPI) 30 (1930–2020) Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, 1992–1993.
112 Jack I. Gregory
 
 1 Jan 1987   1 1953 (AFROTC) 34 (born 1931)
113 Monroe W. Hatch Jr.
 
 29 Jan 1987   3 1951 (USNA) 36 (born 1933)
114 William L. Kirk
 
 1 May 1987   2 1954 (cadet) 33 (1932–2017)
115 Bernard P. Randolph
 
 1 Aug 1987   3 1956 (cadet) 31 (1933–2021)
116 Alfred G. Hansen
 
 1 Aug 1987   2 1955 (cadet) 32 (born 1933)
117 John A. Shaud
 
 1 Jul 1988   3 1956 (USMA) 32 (born 1933)
118 Merrill A. McPeak
 
 1 Aug 1988   6 1957 (AFROTC) 31 (born 1936) Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 2010–2018.
119 Michael J. Dugan
 
 1 May 1989   2 1958 (USMA) 31 (born 1937) Relieved as chief of staff, 1990.
120 James P. McCarthy
 
 1 Oct 1989   3 1957 (AFROTC) 32 (born 1935)
121 Hansford T. Johnson
 
 1 Oct 1989   3 1959 (USAFA) 30 (born 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 (1933–2017)
123 Donald J. Kutyna
 
 1 Apr 1990   2 1957 (USMA) 33 (born 1933)
124 Ronald W. Yates
 
 1 Apr 1990   5 1960 (USAFA) 30 (born 1938)
125 John M. Loh
 
 1 Jun 1990   5 1960 (USAFA) 30 (born 1938)
126 Robert C. Oaks
 
 1 Jul 1990   4 1959 (USAFA) 31 (born 1936)
127 George L. Butler
 
 25 Jan 1991   3 1961 (USAFA) 30 (born 1939)
128 Jimmie V. Adams
 
 13 Feb 1991   2 1958 (AFROTC) 33 (born 1936)
129 Michael P. C. Carns
 
 16 May 1991   3 1959 (USAFA) 32 (1937–2023)[20]
130 James B. Davis
 
 24 Jul 1991   2 1958 (USNA) 33 (born 1935)
131 Chuck A. Horner
 
 1 Jul 1992   2 1958 (AFROTC) 34 (born 1936)
132 Ronald R. Fogleman
 
 1 Sep 1992   5 1963 (USAFA) 29 (born 1942)
133 Charles G. Boyd
 
 1 Dec 1992   3 1960 (cadet) 32 (1938–2022)
134 Henry Viccellio Jr.
 
 1 Dec 1992   5 1963 (USAFA) 29 (born 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 (1940–2020)
137 James L. Jamerson
 
 1 Sep 1994   4 1963 (USAFA) 31 (born 1941)
138 Joseph W. Ashy
 
 13 Sep 1994   2 1962 (Texas A&M) 32 (born 1940)
139 John G. Lorber
 
 12 Oct 1994   3 1964 (USAFA) 30 (1941–2021)
140 Billy J. Boles
 
 1 Jul 1995   2 1962 (AFROTC) 33 (1938–2021)
141 Joseph W. Ralston
 
 1 Jul 1995   8 1965 (AFROTC) 30 (born 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 (born 1942)
143 Eugene E. Habiger
 
 1 Mar 1996   2 1963 (OTS) 33 (1939–2022) Director of Security and Emergency Operations, U.S. Department of Energy, 1999–2001.
144 Michael E. Ryan
 
 4 Apr 1996   5 1965 (USAFA) 31 (born 1941) Son of Air Force four-star general John D. Ryan.
145 Walter Kross
 
 1 Aug 1996   2 1964 (OTS) 32 (born 1942)
146 Howell M. Estes III
 
 1 Oct 1996   2 1965 (USAFA) 31 (1941–2024) Son of Air Force four-star general Howell M. Estes Jr.
147 Lloyd W. Newton
 
 1 Apr 1997   3 1966 (AFROTC) 31 (born 1942)
148 George T. Babbitt Jr.
 
 1 Jun 1997   3 1965 (AFROTC) 32 (born 1942) Director, Defense Logistics Agency, 1996–1997.
149 Ralph E. Eberhart
 
 1 Aug 1997   7 1968 (USAFA) 29 (born 1946)
150 Richard B. Myers
 
 1 Sep 1997   8 1965 (AFROTC) 32 (born 1942) President, Kansas State University, 2016–2022. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2005.
151 John A. Gordon
 
 31 Oct 1997   3 1968 (AFROTC) 29 (1946–2020) 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 (born 1945)
153 Charles T. Robertson Jr.
 
 1 Sep 1998   3 1968 (USAFA) 30 (born 1946)
154 Patrick K. Gamble
 
 1 Oct 1998   3 1967 (Texas A&M) 31 (born 1945) President, University of Alaska System, 2010–2015.[21]
* Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
 
 9 Dec 1998  
  • (retired)
 0 1936 (USMA) 62 (1912–2002)[22] Director of Aviation Security, 1970–1971; U.S. Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Safety and Consumer Affairs, 1971–1975.
155 Lester L. Lyles
 
 1 Jul 1999   4 1968 (AFROTC) 31 (born 1946) Director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, 1996–1999.
156 Gregory S. Martin
 
 1 Jun 2000   5 1970 (USAFA) 30 (born 1948)[23]
157 John W. Handy
 
 1 Jul 2000   5 1967 (OTS) 33 (born 1944)
158 Hal M. Hornburg
 
 1 Aug 2000   4 1968 (Texas A&M) 32 (born 1945)
159 Charles R. Holland
 
 1 Dec 2000   3 1968 (USAFA) 32 (born 1946)
160 William J. Begert
 
 1 May 2001   3 1968 (USAFA) 33 (born 1946)
161 Robert H. Foglesong
 
 5 Nov 2001   4 1972 (AFROTC) 29 (born 1945) President, Mississippi State University, 2006–2008.
162 Donald G. Cook
 
 17 Dec 2001   4 1969 (AFROTC) 32 (born 1946)
163 Lance W. Lord
 
 19 Apr 2002   4 1968 (AFROTC) 34 (born 1946)
164 Charles F. Wald
 
 1 Jan 2003   4 1971 (AFROTC) 32 (born 1948)
165 T. Michael Moseley
 
 1 Oct 2003   5 1971 (Texas A&M) 32 (born 1949) Resigned, 2008.
166 Paul V. Hester
 
 1 Aug 2004   3 1971 (AFROTC) 33 (born 1947)
167 Michael V. Hayden
 
 21 Apr 2005   4 1969 (AFROTC) 36 (born 1945)[25] Director, National Security Agency, 1999–2005.
168 Ronald E. Keys
 
 27 May 2005   2 1967 (AFROTC) 38 (born 1945)
169 William R. Looney III
 
 1 Aug 2005   3 1972 (USAFA) 33 (born 1949)
170 Bruce A. Carlson
 
 1 Sep 2005   3 1971 (AFROTC) 34 (born 1949) Director, National Reconnaissance Office, 2009–2012.
171 Norton A. Schwartz
 
 1 Oct 2005   7 1973 (USAFA) 32 (born 1951) President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 2020–present.
172 John D. W. Corley
 
 1 Nov 2005   4 1973 (USAFA) 32 (born 1951)
173 Lance L. Smith
 
 7 Nov 2005   2 1970 (OTS) 35 (born 1946)
174 Duncan J. McNabb
 
 1 Dec 2005   6 1974 (USAFA) 31 (born 1952)
175 William T. Hobbins
 
 1 Feb 2006   1 1969 (OTS) 37 (born 1946)
176 Kevin P. Chilton
 
 26 Jun 2006   5 1976 (USAFA) 30 (born 1954) First astronaut to attain rank of general.
177 Victor E. Renuart Jr.
 
 23 Mar 2007   3 1972 (OTS) 35 (born 1949)
178 Arthur J. Lichte
 
 7 Sep 2007   2 1971 (AFROTC) 36 (born 1949)[26]
179 C. Robert Kehler
 
 12 Oct 2007   6 1975 (AFROTC) 32 (born 1952)
180 Carrol H. Chandler
 
 30 Nov 2007   4 1974 (USAFA) 33 (born 1952)
181 Roger A. Brady
 
 9 Jan 2008   2 1968 (AFROTC) 40 (born 1946)
182 Stephen R. Lorenz
 
 2 Jul 2008   2 1973 (USAFA) 35 (born 1951)
183 William M. Fraser III
 
 9 Oct 2008   6 1974 (Texas A&M) 34 (born 1952)[27]
184 Craig R. McKinley
 
 17 Nov 2008   4 1974 (AFROTC) 34 (born 1952) First National Guard officer to achieve the rank of general.
185 Donald J. Hoffman
 
 21 Nov 2008   4 1974 (USAFA) 34 (born 1952)
186 Douglas M. Fraser
 
 25 Jun 2009   3 1975 (USAFA) 34 (born 1953)
187 Gary L. North
 
 19 Aug 2009   3 1976 (AFROTC) 33 (born 1954)
188 Raymond E. Johns Jr.
 
 20 Nov 2009   3 1977 (USAFA) 32 (born 1954)
189 Edward A. Rice Jr.
 
 17 Nov 2010   3 1978 (USAFA) 32 (born 1956)
190 Mark A. Welsh III
 
 13 Dec 2010   6 1976 (USAFA) 34 (born 1953) Dean, Bush School of Government and Public Service, 2016–2023; President, Texas A&M University, 2023–present.
191 William L. Shelton
 
 5 Jan 2011   3 1976 (USAFA) 35 (born 1954)
192 Philip M. Breedlove
 
 14 Jan 2011   5 1977 (AFROTC) 34 (born 1955)
193 Gilmary M. Hostage III
 
 13 Sep 2011   3 1977 (AFROTC) 34 (born 1955)
194 Janet C. Wolfenbarger
 
 5 Jun 2012   3 1980 (USAFA) 32 (born 1958) First woman to achieve the rank of general in the Air Force.
195 Larry O. Spencer
 
 27 Jul 2012   3 1980 (OTS) 32 (born 1954) Served nine years in the enlisted ranks before receiving his commission in 1980.
196 Herbert J. Carlisle
 
 2 Aug 2012   5 1978 (USAFA) 34 (born 1957)
197 Paul J. Selva
 
 29 Nov 2012   7 1980 (USAFA) 32 (born 1958)
198 Frank Gorenc
 
 2 Aug 2013   3 1979 (USAFA) 34 (born 1957)
199 Robin Rand
 
 10 Oct 2013   5 1979 (USAFA) 34 (born 1958)
200 Darren W. McDew
 
 5 May 2014   4 1982 (VMI) 32 (born 1960)
201 John E. Hyten
 
 15 Aug 2014   7 1981 (AFROTC) 33 (born 1959)
202 Lori J. Robinson
 
 16 Oct 2014   4 1981 (AFROTC) 33 (born 1959) First woman in any service to lead a unified combatant command.
203 Ellen M. Pawlikowski
 
 8 Jun 2015   3 1978 (AFROTC) 37 (born 1956)
204 Carlton D. Everhart II
 
 11 Aug 2015   3 1983 (Virginia Tech) 32 (born 1961)
205 David L. Goldfein
 
 17 Aug 2015   5 1983 (USAFA) 32 (born 1959)
206 Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy
 
 12 Jul 2016   4 1986 (USAFA) 30 (born 1964)
207 Stephen W. Wilson
 
 22 Jul 2016   4 1981 (Texas A&M) 35 (born 1959/1960)
208 Joseph L. Lengyel
 
 3 Aug 2016   4 1981 (AFROTC) 35 (born 1959)
209 Tod D. Wolters
 
 11 Aug 2016   6 1982 (USAFA) 34 (born c. 1961)
210 John W. Raymond
 
 25 Oct 2016   3 1984 (AFROTC) 32 (born 1962)[28] Chief of Space Operations, 2019–2022.
211 James M. Holmes
 
 10 Mar 2017   3 1981 (OTS) 36 (born 1957)
212 Charles Q. Brown Jr.
 
 26 Jul 2018   6 1985 (AFROTC) 33 (born 1962)
213 Timothy M. Ray
 
 21 Aug 2018   3 1985 (USAFA) 33 (born 1963)
214 Maryanne Miller
 
 7 Sep 2018   2 1981 (AFROTC) 37 (born 1961) First Air Force Reserve officer to achieve the rank of general.
215 Jeffrey L. Harrigian
 
 1 May 2019   3 1985 (USAFA) 34 (born c. 1962)
216 Arnold W. Bunch Jr.
 
 31 May 2019   3 1984 (USAFA) 35 (born 1962)[29]
217 Kenneth S. Wilsbach
 
 8 Jul 2020   4 1985 (AFROTC) 35 (born c. 1963)
218 Glen D. VanHerck
 
 20 Aug 2020   4 1987 (AFROTC) 33 (born 1962)
219 Jacqueline D. Van Ovost
 
 20 Aug 2020   4 1988 (USAFA) 32 (born 1965)
220 Mark D. Kelly
 
 28 Aug 2020   4 1986 (AFROTC) 34 (born c. 1962)
221 David W. Allvin
 
 12 Nov 2020[30]   4 1986 (USAFA) 34 (born c. 1963)
222 Anthony J. Cotton
 
 27 Aug 2021   3 1986 (AFROTC) 35
223 Michael A. Minihan
 
 5 Oct 2021   3 1989 (AFROTC) 32 (born c. 1967)
224 Duke Z. Richardson
 
 13 Jun 2022   2 1989 (OTS) 33 (born c. 1964)
225 James B. Hecker
 
 27 Jun 2022   2 1989 (USAFA) 33
226 Thomas A. Bussiere
 
 7 Dec 2022   2 1985 (Norwich) 37 (born c. 1963)
227 James C. Slife
 
 19 Dec 2023   1 1989 (AFROTC) 34 (born c. 1967)
228 Timothy D. Haugh
 
 2 Feb 2024   0 1991 (AFROTC) 33 (1969–       )
229 Gregory M. Guillot
 
 5 Feb 2024   0 1989 (USAFA) 35
230 Kevin B. Schneider
 
 9 Feb 2024   0 1988 (USAFA) 36
231 John D. Lamontagne
 
 7 Sep 2024   0 1992 (USAFA) 32 (born c. 1970)
232 Steven S. Nordhaus
 
 2 Oct 2024   0 1989 (USAFA) 35 (born 1966)
233 Randall Reed
 
 4 Oct 2024   0 1989 (USAFA) 35 (born c. 1967)

History

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Four-star positions

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Structure of the United States Air ForceStructure of the United States Air ForceStructure of the United States Air Forcefederal government of the United StatesUnited States Intelligence Communitycombined operationsNational Guard (United States)Unified combatant commandUnified combatant commandJoint Chiefs of StaffIraq WarWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)Gulf WarVietnam WarKorean WarCold WarWorld War II

1943–1991

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Retired Air Force Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. is pinned with his fourth star on 10 December 1998.

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.[31] 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.[32]

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 (VJCS) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other joint four-star positions have included unified combatant commanders and certain NATO staff positions.

Robert C. OaksJohn M. LohRonald W. YatesDonald Y. KutynaCharles C. McDonaldHansford T. JohnsonJames P. McCarthyMichael J. DuganMerrill A. McPeakJohn A. ShaudAlfred G. HansenBernard P. RandolphWilliam L. KirkMonroe W. Hatch Jr.Jack I. GregoryThomas C. RichardsRobert H. ReedDuane H. CassidyJohn L. PiotrowskiJohn T. Chain Jr.Robert D. RussEarl T. O'LoughlinCharles L. Donnelly Jr.Robert W. BazleyRobert T. HerresLarry D. WelchLawrence A. SkantzeJames E. DaltonAndrew P. IosueBilly M. MinterJerome F. O'MalleyJames V. HartingerJames P. MullinsThomas M. Ryan Jr.Robert T. MarshCharles A. GabrielRichard L. LawsonRobert C. MathisWilliam Y. SmithBennie L. DavisJohn W. PaulyJames A. HillWilbur L. CreechAlton D. SlayBryce Poe IIJames E. HillJames R. AllenLew Allen Jr.William G. Moore Jr.John W. RobertsRobert E. HuyserDaniel James Jr.F. Michael RogersWilliam J. Evans (general)William V. McBrideLouis T. SeithLouis L. Wilson Jr.Timothy F. O'KeefeRobert J. DixonRichard H. EllisSamuel C. PhillipsGeorge J. EadePaul K. CarltonGeorge B. SimlerRussell E. DoughertyJohn W. VogtDavid C. JonesJohn D. LavelleTheodore R. MiltonLucius D. Clay Jr.Jack J. CattonJohn C. MeyerSeth J. McKeeJoseph R. HolzappleGeorge S. BrownHorace M. WadeJack G. MerrellWilliam W. MomyerThomas Patrick GerrityJoseph J. NazzaroMaurice A. PrestonDavid A. BurchinalJames Ferguson (general)Raymond J. ReevesWilliam S. StoneBruce K. HollowayKenneth B. HobsonWilliam H. BlanchardJohn D. RyanHowell M. Estes Jr.Hunter Harris Jr.Gabriel P. DisoswayJoe W. KellyJacob E. SmartRobert M. LeeJohn P. McConnell (general)Mark E. BradleyDean C. StrotherJohn K. GerhartBernard A. SchrieverWalter C. Sweeney Jr.William F. McKeeTruman H. LandonFrederic H. Smith Jr.Emmett O'Donnell Jr.Samuel E. AndersonCharles P. CabellLeon W. JohnsonFrank F. EverestThomas S. PowerLaurence S. KuterOrval R. CookEarle E. PartridgeEdwin W. RawlingsThomas D. WhiteOtto P. WeylandLauris NorstadCurtis E. LeMayBenjamin W. ChidlawJohn K. CannonNathan F. TwiningMuir S. FairchildHoyt S. VandenbergCarl A. SpaatzGeorge C. KenneyJoseph T. McNarneyHenry H. ArnoldGulf WarVietnam WarKorean WarCold WarWorld War II

1991–present

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Randall ReedSteven NordhausJohn LamontagneKevin SchneiderGregory GuillotTimothy D. HaughJames C. SlifeThomas A. BussiereJames B. HeckerDuke Z. RichardsonMichael A. MinihanAnthony J. CottonDavid W. AllvinMark D. KellyJacqueline Van OvostGlen D. VanHerckKenneth S. WilsbachArnold W. Bunch Jr.Jeffrey L. HarrigianMaryanne MillerTimothy RayCharles Q. Brown Jr.James M. HolmesJohn W. RaymondTod D. WoltersJoseph L. LengyelStephen W. WilsonTerrence J. O’ShaughnessyDavid L. GoldfeinCarlton D. Everhart IIEllen M. PawlikowskiLori RobinsonJohn E. HytenDarren W. McDewRobin RandFrank GorencPaul J. SelvaHerbert J. CarlisleLarry O. SpencerJanet C. WolfenbargerGilmary M. Hostage IIIPhilip M. BreedloveWilliam L. SheltonMark A. Welsh IIIEdward A. Rice Jr.Raymond E. Johns Jr.Gary L. NorthDouglas M. FraserDonald J. HoffmanCraig R. McKinleyWilliam M. Fraser IIIStephen R. LorenzRoger A. BradyCarrol H. ChandlerC. Robert KehlerArthur J. LichteVictor E. Renuart Jr.Kevin P. ChiltonWilliam T. HobbinsDuncan J. McNabbLance L. SmithJohn D.W. CorleyNorton A. SchwartzBruce CarlsonWilliam R. Looney IIIRonald E. KeysMichael V. HaydenPaul V. HesterT. Michael MoseleyCharles F. WaldLance W. LordDonald G. Cook (general)Robert H. FoglesongWilliam J. BegertCharles R. HollandHal M. HornburgJohn W. HandyGregory S. MartinLester L. LylesPatrick K. GambleCharles T. Robertson Jr.John P. JumperJohn A. GordonRichard B. MyersRalph E. EberhartGeorge T. Babbitt Jr.Lloyd W. NewtonHowell M. Estes IIIWalter KrossMichael E. RyanEugene E. HabigerRichard E. HawleyJoseph W. RalstonBilly J. BolesJohn G. LorberJoseph W. AshyJames L. JamersonThomas S. Moorman Jr.Robert L. RutherfordHenry Viccellio Jr.Charles G. BoydRonald R. FoglemanCharles A. HornerJames B. DavisMichael P.C. CarnsJimmie V. AdamsGeorge L. ButlerRobert C. OaksJohn M. LohRonald W. YatesDonald Y. KutynaCharles C. McDonaldHansford T. JohnsonJames P. McCarthyMerrill A. McPeakIraq WarWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Legislation

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Further information: Legislative history of United States four-star officers

The following list of Congressional legislation includes major acts of Congress pertaining to appointments to the grade of general in the United States Air Force.

Legislation Citation Summary
Act of July 26, 1947

[National Security Act of 1947]

 61 Stat. 503
  • Established U.S. Air Force.
Act of August 7, 1947

[Officer Personnel Act of 1947]

 61 Stat. 886
  • Authorized president to designate, subject to Senate confirmation, Air Force officers to have the rank of general while assigned to positions of importance and responsibility.
  • Capped Air Force positions with ranks above major general at 15 percent of the total number of general officers serving on active federal military duty, of which not more than 25 percent to carry the rank of general.
Act of June 26, 1948  62 Stat. 1052
  • Authorized permanent grade of general and full active-duty pay and allowances in retirement for Carl A. Spaatz.
Act of December 12, 1980

[Defense Officer Personnel Management Act]

 94 Stat. 2844
 94 Stat. 2849
 94 Stat. 2876
  • Authorized president to designate positions of importance and responsibility to carry the grade of general, to be assigned from officers on active duty in any grade above colonel, subject to Senate confirmation, who revert to their permanent grade at the end of their assignment unless it was terminated by
    1. assignment to another position designated to carry the same grade,
    2. up to 180 days of hospitalization, or
    3. up to 90 days prior to retirement [reduced to 60 days in 1991 (105 Stat. 1354)].
  • Capped, except during war or national emergency, Air Force officers in grades above major general at 15 percent of all general officers on active duty, of whom not more than 25 percent to serve in the grade of general.
  • Authorized three- and four-star officers to retire in the highest grade held on active duty, at the discretion of the president and subject to confirmation by the Senate, with no time-in-grade requirement [changed in 1996 to certification by secretary of defense and three-year time-in-grade requirement (110 Stat. 292)].
Act of October 17, 1998  112 Stat. 2035
  • Authorized promotion of Benjamin O. Davis Jr. to general on the retired list, with no increase in compensation or benefits.
Act of January 28, 2008  122 Stat. 496
  • Increased grade of chief of the National Guard Bureau to general.
Act of October 28, 2009  123 Stat. 2273
 123 Stat. 2274
 123 Stat. 2276
  • Capped Air Force officers in the grade of general at 9, exempting from caps the chief of the National Guard Bureau and up to 20 generals assigned to joint duty [joint-duty cap repealed in 2016, effective December 31, 2022 (130 Stat. 2100), and lowered in 2021 to 19 (134 Stat. 3563)].
Act of December 20, 2019  133 Stat. 1561
  • Redesignated Air Force Space Command as U.S. Space Force.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b 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. For those presently in their position, values are as of 2020. 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.
  4. ^ 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).
  5. ^ a b 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Served in this position while in the United States Army.
  8. ^ "Letter on Assignment of General Carl Spaatz as Deputy to the Commanding General, Army Air Forces for Special Organizational Planning". Headquarters, U.S. Air Force (digitized by NARA). 4 December 1945. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  9. ^ Nomination as chairman, Civil Aeronautics Board withdrawn, 1948.
  10. ^ Retired as general, 31 July 1961; recalled as general, Sep 1961; retired as general, 30 April 1965.
  11. ^ "Congressional Record" (PDF). 11 July 1958. p. 13456. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  12. ^ Relieved, Apr 1972, and retired as major general.
  13. ^ Major Wheatley (9 November 1977). "Staff Summary Sheet, 9 November 1977". Headquarters, U.S. Air Force (digitized by NARA). Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  14. ^ 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 August 1972.
  15. ^ Transferred from Royal Canadian Air Force, 1943.
  16. ^ Transferred from Army National Guard, 1952.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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 April 1985.
  19. ^ "Senate panel opposes increase in fired Air Force chief's pension". The Baltimore Sun. 31 October 1990. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  20. ^ Nomination as Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) withdrawn, 1995.
  21. ^ "2010- 2015 Patrick K Gamble | UA Journey". University of Alaska. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  22. ^ Retired as lieutenant general, Feb 1970; advanced to general on the retired list, 9 December 1998.
  23. ^ Nomination as Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM) withdrawn, 2004.
  24. ^ Hayden continued serving as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency as a civilian for a year after retiring from the Air Force in 2008.
  25. ^ Retired as general, 1 July 2008; remained Director, Central Intelligence Agency (DCIA) as civilian.
  26. ^ Retired as general, 1 January 2010; retroactively demoted to major general on the retired list, 1 February 2017.
  27. ^ First nomination as Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (CDRUSTRANSCOM) withdrawn, 2008.
  28. ^ Transferred to U.S. Space Force, 20 December 2019.
  29. ^ First nomination as commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC) returned to the President, 2019.
  30. ^ Allvin's effective date-of-rank is 12 November 2020, which is four days before he assumed the office of vice chief of staff.
  31. ^ 10 USC 601, Positions of importance and responsibility: generals and lieutenant generals; admirals and vice admirals{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ 10 USC 525, Distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general officer and flag officer grades{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

Bibliography

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  • United States Air Force (1979) [1951–1970], Air Force Register, Washington D.C.: Department of the Air Force
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