Flag of an Air Force
lieutenant general

This is a list of lieutenant generals in the United States Air Force from 2000 to 2009. The rank of lieutenant general (or three-star general) is the second-highest rank normally achievable in the U.S. 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,^[a] active-duty positions held while serving at three-star rank,^[b] number of years of active-duty service at three-star rank (Yrs),^[c] year commissioned and source of commission,^[d] number of years in commission when promoted to three-star rank (YC),^[e] and other biographical notes (years of birth and death are shown in parentheses in the Notes column).^[f]

List of U.S. Air Force lieutenant generals from 2000 to 2009

#	Name	Photo	Date of rank[a]	Position[b]	Yrs[c]	Commission[d]	YC[e]	Notes[f]
*	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	(1951–        )[g][h] 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)[i]	29	(1947–        ) Executive Director, National Security Research Institute at the University of Nebraska, 2012–2020.[2]
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–        )[j] 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 A5), 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 A5/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–        )[k][h] 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–        )[l] 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	(1945–        )
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	(1952–        )
*	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–        )[k][g] 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.[4]
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–        )[k] 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)[m]	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.	7	1971 (AFROTC)	32	(1949–        )[n] 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, 2016–2018.[5]
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. Commander, Twelfth Air Force/Commander, U.S. Southern Command Air Forces/Senior Investigating Officer, FBI Investigation Allegations of Detainee Abuse at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility (COMSOUTHAF), 2005. Commander, Twelfth Air Force/Commander, U.S. Southern Command Air Forces (COMSOUTHAF), 2005–2006. Commander, Twelfth Air Force/Commander, Air Forces Southern (COMAFSOUTH), 2006.	3	1972 (USAFA)	31	(1950–        )
31	Walter E. Buchanan III		1 Oct 2003	Commander, Ninth Air Force/Commander, U.S. Central Command Air Forces (COMUSCENTAF), 2003–2006.	3	1972 (USAFA)	31	(1949–        )
32	Garry R. Trexler		18 Nov 2003	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), 2003–2006.	3	1971 (OTS)	32	(1947–        )
33	William Welser III		1 Dec 2003	Commander, Eighteenth Air Force, 2003–2005.	2	1971 (AFROTC)	32	(1949–        )
*	Victor E. Renuart Jr.		1 Jan 2004	Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces (VCOMPACAF), 2003–2005. Commander, George C. Kenney Headquarters (Provisional)/Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces (COMKHQ(P)/VCOMPACAF), 2005.[6] Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff, J5/Senior Member, U.S. Delegation to the U.N. Military Staff Committee (Sr. Member MSC), 2005–2006. Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, 2006–2007.	3	1972 (OTS)	32	(1949–        )[o] Promoted to general, 23 Mar 2007.
34	Charles L. Johnson II		1 Jan 2004	Commander, Electronic Systems Center (COMESC), 2003–2007.[7]	3	1972 (USAFA)	32	(1949–        )
35	Donald J. Wetekam		23 Feb 2004	Deputy Chief of Staff, Installations and Logistics, Air Staff (DCS A4), 2004–2007.	3	1973 (USAFA)	32
36	Thomas L. Baptiste		1 Jun 2004	Deputy Chairman, NATO Military Committee (DCMC), 2004–2007.	3	1973 (OTS)	31	(1951–        )
*	Roger A. Brady		3 Jun 2004	Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Air Staff (DCS A1), 2004–2008.	4	1969 (AFROTC)	35	(1946–        ) Promoted to general, 9 Jan 2008.
37	John A. Bradley		24 Jun 2004	Chief, Air Force Reserve/Commander, Air Force Reserve Command (CAFR/COMAFRC), 2004–2008.	4	1967 (AFROTC)	37	(1945–        )
38	Jeffrey B. Kohler		6 Jul 2004	Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DIRDSCA), 2004–2007.	3	1973 (USAFA)	31	(1951–        )
39	John F. Regni		8 Jul 2004	Commander, Air University (COMAU), 2004–2005. Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 2005–2009.	5	1973 (USAFA)	31	(1952–        )
40	Henry A. Obering III		1 Aug 2004	Director, Missile Defense Agency (DIRMDA), 2004–2008.	4	1973 (AFROTC)	31	(1951–        )
41	Michael W. Wooley		1 Aug 2004	Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (COMAFSOC), 2004–2007.	3	1972 (OTS)	32	(1950–        )
42	Stephen G. Wood		18 Oct 2004	Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Air Staff (DCS A5/8), 2004–2006. Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Programs, Air Staff (DCS A5/8), 2006. 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), 2006–2008.	4	1974 (AFROTC)	30	(1949–        )
*	William M. Fraser III		3 Feb 2005	Vice Commander, Air Combat Command (VCOMACC), 2005–2006. Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC), 2005. Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (ACJCS), 2006–2008.	3	1974 (Texas A&M)	31	(1952–        )[k][g] Promoted to general, 8 Oct 2008.
43	Dennis R. Larsen		12 Apr 2005	Vice Commander, Air Education and Training Command (VCOMAETC), 2005–2007.	2	1971 (OTS)	34	(1949–        )
*	C. Robert Kehler		1 Jun 2005	Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (DCDRUSSTRATCOM), 2005–2007. Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2007.	2	1975 (AFROTC)	30	(1952–        )[g] Promoted to general, 12 Oct 2007.
44	Michael A. Hamel		1 Jun 2005	Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center (COMSMC), 2005–2008.	3	1972 (USAFA)	33	(1950–        )
45	Christopher A. Kelly		1 Jul 2005	Vice Commander, Air Mobility Command (VCOMAMC), 2005–2008. Commander, Air Mobility Command (COMAMC), 2005.	3	1974 (USAFA)	31	(1952–        )
46	Robert D. Bishop Jr.		6 Jul 2005	Vice Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (VCOMUSAFE), 2005–2006. Commander, Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe), 2006–2008.	3	1974 (USAFA)	31	(1952–        )
47	Charles E. Croom Jr.		1 Aug 2005	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), 2005–2006. Director, Defense Information Systems Agency/Commander, Joint Task Force – Global Network Operations (DIRDISA/CDRJTF-GNO), 2006–2008.	3	1973 (AFROTC)	32	(1949–        )
48	Terry L. Gabreski		1 Aug 2005	Vice Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (VCOMAFMC), 2005–2009.	4	1974 (OTS)	31	(1952–        ) Daughter of Air Force brigadier general Alonzo J. Walter Jr.
*	Kevin P. Chilton		9 Aug 2005	Commander, Eighth Air Force/Commander, Task Force 204/Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike (CTF-204/JFCC SGS), 2005–2006.	1	1976 (USAFA)	29	(1954–        )[g] Promoted to general, 26 Jun 2006.
49	John L. Hudson		15 Aug 2005	Commander, Aeronautical Systems Center/Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Procurement and Modernization (COMASC/PEO Aircraft), 2005–2009.	4	1973 (USAFA)	32	(1950–        ) Director, National Museum of the United States Air Force, 2010–2018.[8][9]
50	David A. Deptula		1 Oct 2005	Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Commander, Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica/Standing Joint Force Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command (VCOMPACAF/CJTF-SFA/SJFACC USPACOM), 2005–2006. Commander, George C. Kenney Headquarters (Provisional)/Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces/Commander, Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica/Standing Joint Force Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command (COMKHQ(P)/VCOMPACAF/CJTF-SFA/SJFACC USPACOM), 2006. Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Air Staff (DCS A2), 2006–2007. Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, Air Staff (DCS A2), 2007–2010.	5	1976 (USAFA)	29	(1952–        )
*	Douglas M. Fraser		11 Oct 2005	Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region/Commander, Alaskan Command/Commander, Eleventh Air Force (CDRANR/CDRALCOM), 2005–2008. Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (DCDRUSPACOM), 2008–2009.	4	1975 (USAFA)	31	(1952–        )[g] Promoted to general, 25 Jun 2009.
51	Frank G. Klotz		17 Oct 2005	Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command (VCOMAFSPC), 2005–2007. Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force/Director, Air Staff, U.S. Air Force (AVCSAF/AF/DS), 2007–2009. Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command (COMAFGSC), 2009–2011.	6	1973 (USAFA)[p]	32	(1950–        ) U.S. Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security, 2014–2018.[11]
*	Donald J. Hoffman		1 Nov 2005	Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (MILDEP SAF/AQ), 2005–2008.	3	1974 (USAFA)	31	(1952–        ) Promoted to general, 21 Nov 2008.
*	Stephen R. Lorenz		1 Nov 2005	Commander, Air University (COMAU), 2005–2008.	3	1973 (USAFA)	32	(1951–        ) Promoted to general, 2 Jul 2008.
52	Michael W. Peterson		1 Feb 2006	Chief, Warfighting Integration/Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/CIO A6), 2006–2008.	2	1974 (AFROTC)	32	(1952–        )
*	Gary L. North		16 Feb 2006	Commander, Ninth Air Force/Commander, U.S. Central Command Air Forces (COMUSCENTAF), 2006–2008. Commander, Ninth Air Force/Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central (COMUSAFCENT), 2008–2009.	3	1976 (AFROTC)	30	(1954–        ) Promoted to general, 19 Aug 2009.
53	Ronald F. Sams		1 Mar 2006	Inspector General, U.S. Air Force (AF/IG), 2006–2009.	3	1972 (AFROTC)	34	(1949–        )
*	Craig R. McKinley		20 May 2006	Director, Air National Guard (DIRANG), 2006–2008.	2	1974 (AFROTC)	32	(1952–        )[q] Promoted to general, 17 Nov 2008.
54	Robert J. Elder Jr.		13 Jun 2006	Commander, Eighth Air Force/Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike (JFCC SGS), 2006–2007. Commander, Eighth Air Force/Commander, Task Force 204/Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike (CTF-204/JFCC SGS), 2007–2009.	3	1975 (AFROTC)	31	(1952–        )
55	James N. Soligan		26 Jun 2006	Deputy Chief of Staff for Capability Development, Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (DCOFS-CD), 2006–2009.	3	1973 (USAFA)	33	(1951–        )
56	Norman R. Seip		7 Jul 2006	Commander, Twelfth Air Force/Commander, Air Forces Southern (COMAFSOUTH), 2006–2008. Commander, Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern), 2008–2009.	3	1974 (USAFA)	32	(1951–        )
57	Maurice L. McFann Jr.		26 Jul 2006	Commander, Allied Air Component Command İzmir/Commander, Sixteenth Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force (COMAIR-COM İzmir), 2006–2009.[12]	3	1972 (OTS)	34	(1950–        )
58	James G. Roudebush		4 Aug 2006	Surgeon General, U.S. Air Force (AF/SG), 2006–2009.	3	1972 (AFROTC)	34	(1948–        )
59	Loyd S. Utterback		6 Oct 2006	Commander, Thirteenth Air Force/Commander, Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica/Joint Force Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command (CJTF-SFA/JFACC USPACOM), 2006–2007. Commander, Thirteenth Air Force (Air Forces Pacific)/Commander, Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica/Joint Force Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command (CJTF-SFA/JFACC USPACOM), 2007–2009.	3	1975 (Texas A&M)	31	(1953–        )
*	Raymond E. Johns Jr.		10 Oct 2006	Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Programs, Air Staff (DCS A5/8), 2006–2009.	3	1977 (USAFA)	29	(1954–        ) Promoted to general, 20 Nov 2009.
60	Kevin J. Sullivan		27 Jun 2007	Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Air Staff (DCS A4/7), 2007–2008.	1	1974 (AFROTC)	33	(1951–        )[r]
61	Glenn F. Spears		2 Nov 2007	Deputy Commander, U.S. Southern Command (DCDRUSSOUTHCOM), 2007–2009. Commander, Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern), 2009–2011.	4	1978 (USAFA)	29	(1956–        )
62	Ted F. Bowlds		7 Nov 2007	Commander, Electronic Systems Center (COMESC), 2007–2011.	4	1975 (AFROTC)	32	(1953–        )
63	Daniel J. Darnell		19 Nov 2007	Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements, Air Staff (DCS A3), 2007–2009. Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (DCDRUSPACOM), 2009–2012.	5	1975 (VMI)	32	(1953–        )
64	Donald C. Wurster		27 Nov 2007	Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (COMAFSOC), 2007–2011.	4	1973 (USAFA)	34	(1951–        ) Brother of Coast Guard vice admiral Charles D. Wurster.
*	William L. Shelton		20 Dec 2007	Commander, Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic-Space)/Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space (COMAFSTRAT-Space/CDRJFCC Space), 2007–2008. Commander, Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic)/Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space (COMAFSTRAT/CDRJFCC Space), 2008. Chief, Warfighting Integration/Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/CIO A6), 2008–2009. Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force/Director, Air Staff, U.S. Air Force (AVCSAF/AF/DS), 2009–2011.	4	1976 (USAFA)	31	(1954–        ) Promoted to general, 5 Jan 2011.
65	Richard Y. Newton III		7 Jan 2008	Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and Personnel, Air Staff (DCS A1), 2008–2009. Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force/Director, Air Staff, U.S. Air Force (AVCSAF/AF/DS), 2009–2012.	4	1978 (USAFA)	30
*	Edward A. Rice Jr.		25 Feb 2008	Commander, U.S. Forces Japan/Commander, Fifth Air Force (COMUSFJ), 2008–2010.	2	1978 (USAFA)	30	(1956–        ) Promoted to general, 17 Nov 2010.
66	Dana T. Atkins		9 May 2008	Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region/Commander, Alaskan Command/Commander, Eleventh Air Force (CDRANR/CDRALCOM), 2008–2011.	3	1978 (AFROTC)[s]	30	(1955–        )
67	John T. Sheridan		16 May 2008	Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center (COMSMC), 2008–2011.	3	1975 (AFROTC)[t]	33
68	Allen G. Peck		16 Jun 2008	Commander, Air University (COMAU), 2008–2011.	3	1975 (USAFA)	33
69	Vern M. Findley II		20 Jun 2008	Vice Commander, Air Mobility Command (VCOMAMC), 2008–2011.	3	1976 (AFROTC)	32	(1954–        )
70	Charles E. Stenner Jr.		24 Jun 2008	Chief, Air Force Reserve/Commander, Air Force Reserve Command (CAFR/COMAFRC), 2008–2012.	4	1973 (OTS)	35
*	Philip M. Breedlove		21 Jul 2008	Commander, Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe), 2008–2009. Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements, Air Staff (DCS A3), 2009–2011.	3	1977 (AFROTC)	31	(1955–        )[u] Promoted to general, 14 Jan 2011.
71	Jack L. Rives		23 Jul 2008	Judge Advocate General, U.S. Air Force (TJAG), 2006–2010.	2	1977 (AFROTC)[v]	31	(1952–        ) Executive Director, American Bar Association, 2010–2023.[16][17]
72	Mark D. Shackelford		6 Oct 2008	Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (MILDEP SAF/AQ), 2008–2011.	3	1977 (USAFA)	31
*	Paul J. Selva		8 Oct 2008	Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (ACJCS), 2008–2011. Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces (VCOMPACAF), 2011–2012.	4	1980 (USAFA)	28	(1958–        )[g][w] Promoted to general, 29 Nov 2012.
73	Jeffrey A. Remington		24 Nov 2008	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), 2008–2012.	4	1977 (USAFA)	31	(c. 1955–        )
*	Mark A. Welsh III		9 Dec 2008	Associate Director, Military Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency (ADMA), 2008–2010.	2	1976 (USAFA)	32	(1953–        )[h] Promoted to general, 13 Dec 2010. Dean, Bush School of Government and Public Service, 2016–present.
74	Larry D. James		9 Dec 2008	Commander, Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic)/Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space (COMAFSTRAT/CDRJFCC Space), 2008–2011. Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, Air Staff (DCS A2), 2011–2013.	5	1978 (USAFA)	30	(1956–        ) Deputy Director, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 2013–present.
75	Loren M. Reno		16 Jan 2009	Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Air Staff (DCS A4/7), 2009–2011.	2	1974 (OTS)	34
76	Harry M. Wyatt III		1 Feb 2009	Director, Air National Guard (DIRANG), 2009–2013.	4	1971 (OTS)	38	(1949–        )
77	John C. Koziol		17 Feb 2009	Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence) for Joint and Coalition Warfighter Support/Director, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Task Force, (DIRISR TF) 2009–2012.	3	1976 (Norwich)	33	(1953–        )
78	Michael C. Gould		9 Jun 2009	Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 2009–2013.	4	1976 (USAFA)	33	(1953–        )
79	Marc E. Rogers		26 Jun 2009	Inspector General, U.S. Air Force (AF/IG), 2009–2012.	3	1978 (AFROTC)[x]	31	(1954–        )
80	William T. Lord		27 Jul 2009	Chief, Warfighting Integration/Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/CIO A6), 2009–2012.	3	1977 (USAFA)	32	(1955–        )
81	Charles B. Green		3 Aug 2009	Surgeon General, U.S. Air Force (AF/SG), 2009–2012.	3	1978 (direct)[m]	31	(1955–        )
*	Gilmary M. Hostage III		5 Aug 2009	Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command (COMUSAFCENT), 2009–2011.	2	1977 (AFROTC)	32	(1955–        ) Promoted to general, 13 Sep 2011.
82	Thomas J. Owen		14 Aug 2009	Commander, Aeronautical Systems Center/Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Procurement and Modernization (COMASC/PEO Aircraft), 2009–2012.	3	1978 (USAFA)	31
83	Robert R. Allardice		19 Aug 2009	Commander, Eighteenth Air Force (Air Forces Transportation), 2009–2011. Vice Commander, Air Mobility Command (VCOMAMC), 2011–2013.	4	1980 (USAFA)	29	(c. 1958–        )
*	Frank Gorenc		24 Aug 2009	Commander, Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe), 2009–2012. Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force/Director, Air Staff, U.S. Air Force (AVCSAF/AF/DS), 2012–2013.	4	1979 (USAFA)	30	(1957–        ) Promoted to general, 2 Aug 2013. Brother of Air Force major general Stanley Gorenc.
*	Herbert J. Carlisle		2 Sep 2009	Commander, Thirteenth Air Force (Air Forces Pacific)/Commander, Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica/Joint Force Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command (CJTF-SFA/JFACC USPACOM), 2009–2011. Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements, Air Staff (DCS A3), 2011–2012.	3	1979 (USAFA)	30	(1957–        ) Promoted to general, 2 Aug 2012.
84	William J. Rew		19 Oct 2009	Vice Commander, Air Combat Command (VCOMACC), 2009–2013.	4	1979 (USAFA)	30
85	Christopher D. Miller		16 Nov 2009	Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Programs, Air Staff (DCS A5/8), 2009–2012.	3	1980 (USAFA)	29
*	Janet C. Wolfenbarger		3 Dec 2009	Vice Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (VCOMAFMC), 2009–2011. Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (MILDEP SAF/AQ), 2011–2012.	3	1980 (USAFA)	29	(1958–        ) Promoted to general, 5 Jun 2012.
86	Ralph J. Jodice II		4 Dec 2009	Commander, Allied Air Component Command İzmir/Commander, Sixteenth Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force (COMAIR-COM İzmir), 2009–2013.	4	1976 (AFROTC)	33	(1955–        )

Timeline

2000–2009

For lieutenant generals who are dual-hatted as both numbered air force (NAF) commanders and commander^[y] or deputy commander^[z] of a joint force, the service-specific command is to be prioritized.

History

The United States Air Force originated as the Air Corps of the Regular Army. During World War II the Regular Army was augmented with a larger temporary force of reservists, volunteers, and conscripts to form the Army of the United States. Air personnel in the combined force belonged to the Army Air Forces. After the war, all Air Corps and Army Air Forces personnel split off from the Army to form the independent Air Force.

1939–1947 (U.S. Army Air Forces)

Delos C. Emmons

The first United States airman to become a lieutenant general was Delos C. Emmons, commanding general of General Headquarters Air Force, who was appointed to that grade under a 1940 law authorizing the President to appoint Regular Army officers to temporary higher grades in the Army of the United States. The first airman to become a lieutenant general in the Regular Army was Frank M. Andrews, who was automatically elevated to that grade upon assuming command of the Panama Canal Department in 1941. The Regular Army grade of lieutenant general had been abolished at the end of World War I, but was revived in 1939 when Congress authorized the officers commanding certain important Army formations to be temporarily appointed to the grade while detailed to those positions; these commands included the four field armies and the Panama Canal and Hawaiian Departments.^[19]

Numerous airmen were promoted to lieutenant general during World War II. Lieutenant generals typically commanded one of the numbered field armies or air forces; served as deputy theater commanders; or headed major headquarters staffs, administrative commands, or support organizations. Most World War II lieutenant generals were appointed to that grade in the Army of the United States, even if detailed to a position that already carried the Regular Army grade; unlike the ex officio Regular Army grade, which was lost if an officer was reassigned, the Army of the United States grade was personal to each individual, making it easier to transfer officers without inadvertently demoting them.^[20]

Although most air lieutenant generals belonged to the Regular Army Air Corps, anyone could be appointed lieutenant general in the Army of the United States, including reservists and civilians; James H. Doolittle was promoted to lieutenant general as an Air Corps Reserve officer and William S. Knudsen was commissioned lieutenant general directly from civilian life.^[21]

1947–1960 (U.S. Air Force)

Otto P. Weyland

The National Security Act of 1947 transferred all personnel in the Army Air Forces, Air Corps, and General Headquarters Air Force to the newly created United States Air Force. Lieutenant generals in the new service typically headed divisions of the Air Staff in Washington, D.C.; the unified command in Alaska; the theater air forces in Europe or the Far East; or the Air Force's top-level strategic, tactical, air defense, materiel, or transportation commands. Many early three-star commands were subsequently upgraded to four stars, and their vice commanders were elevated to three stars along with the commanders of the larger numbered air forces.^[22]

All three- and four-star ranks were made ex officio by the Officer Personnel Act of 1947, meaning that a lieutenant general had to be reconfirmed in that grade every time he changed jobs. During the Korean War the Far East Air Forces (FEAF) vice commander for operations, Major General Otto P. Weyland, was slated for a three-star job in the United States but Air Force Chief of Staff Hoyt S. Vandenberg wanted Weyland to be promoted to lieutenant general while still in the war zone, so Vandenberg created the new three-star position of deputy commanding general of FEAF just for Weyland. Once promoted, Weyland immediately returned stateside but remained technically assigned to FEAF in order to keep his new grade while waiting for the Senate to confirm him in his permanent three-star assignment as commanding general of Tactical Air Command.^[23]

It was rare but not unheard of for a lieutenant general to be demoted by accepting a transfer to a lower ranking job. Air Force Inspector General Truman H. Landon and Fifth Air Force commanding generals Frank F. Everest and Glenn O. Barcus all reverted to major general for their next assignments but regained their third stars in subsequent postings.^[24] Conversely, Major General Muir S. Fairchild skipped three-star rank entirely when he was appointed to the four-star office of vice chief of staff of the Air Force.^[25]

Legislative history

The following list of Congressional legislation includes all acts of Congress pertaining to appointments to the grade of lieutenant general in the United States Air Force from 2000 to 2009.^[aa]

Each entry lists an act of Congress, its citation in the United States Statutes at Large, and a summary of the act's relevance, with officers affected by the act bracketed where applicable. Positions listed without reference to rank are assumed to be eligible for officers of three-star grade or higher.