List of United States Air Force four-star generals

This is a complete list of four-star generals in the United States Air Force. The rank of general (or full general, or four-star general) is the highest rank normally achievable in the U.S. Air Force. It ranks above lieutenant general (three-star general) and below General of the Air Force (five-star general).

Flag of an Air Force
four-star general

There have been 230 four-star generals in the history of the U.S. Air Force. Of these, 226 achieved that rank while on active duty, 3 were promoted after retirement, and one was promoted posthumously. Generals entered the Air Force via several paths: 60 were commissioned via the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), 49 via the aviation cadet program, 45 via the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), 42 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

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
1Henry H. Arnold
19 Mar 1943   3 1907 (USMA)36(1886–1950) Promoted to General of the Army, 21 Dec 1944; to General of the Air Force, 7 May 1949.
2Joseph T. McNarney
7 Mar 1945   7 1915 (USMA)30(1893–1972)
3George C. Kenney
9 Mar 1945   6 1917 (cadet)28(1889–1977)
4Carl A. Spaatz
11 Mar 1945   3 1914 (USMA)31(1891–1974)
5Hoyt 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.
6Muir S. Fairchild
27 May 1948   2 1918 (cadet)30(1894–1950) Died in office.
7Nathan F. Twining
10 Oct 1950   10 1918 (USMA)32(1897–1982) Brother of Marine Corps four-star general Merrill B. Twining.
8John K. Cannon
29 Oct 1951   3 1917 (direct)34(1892–1955)
9Benjamin W. Chidlaw
29 Oct 1951   4 1922 (USMA)29(1900–1977)
10Curtis E. LeMay
29 Oct 1951   14 1929 (cadet)22(1906–1990) American Independent Party nominee for U.S. Vice president, 1968.
11Lauris Norstad 5 Jul 1952   11 1930 (USMA)22(1907–1988)
12Otto P. Weyland
5 Jul 1952   7 1923 (Texas A&M)29(1902–1979)
13Thomas D. White
30 Jun 1953   8 1920 (USMA)33(1902–1965)
14Edwin W. Rawlings
19 Feb 1954   5 1930 (cadet)24(1904–1997)
15Earle E. Partridge
19 Feb 1954   5 1924 (USMA)30(1900–1990)
16Orval R. Cook
1 Apr 1954   2 1922 (USMA)32(1898–1980)
17Laurence S. Kuter
29 May 1955   7 1927 (USMA)28(1905–1979)[10] U.S. Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization, 1946–1948.
18Thomas S. Power
30 Jun 1957   7 1929 (cadet)28(1905–1970)
19Frank F. Everest
1 Jul 1957   4 1928 (USMA)29(1904–1983)
20Leon W. Johnson
31 Aug 1957   8 1926 (USMA)31(1904–1997)[11] Awarded Medal of Honor, 1943. Daughter married son of Air Force four-star general Hoyt S. Vandenberg.
21Charles P. Cabell
11 Jul 1958[12] 4 1925 (USMA)33(1903–1971) Distant cousin of Navy four-star admiral Richard H. Jackson.
22Samuel E. Anderson
10 Mar 1959   4 1928 (USMA)31(1906–1982)
23Emmett O'Donnell Jr.
31 Jul 1959   4 1928 (USMA)31(1906–1971)
24Frederic H. Smith Jr.
1 Aug 1959   3 1929 (USMA)30(1908–1980) Son-in-law of Navy five-star admiral Ernest J. King.
25Truman H. Landon
28 Jun 1961   2 1928 (USMA)33(1905–1986)
26William 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.
27Walter C. Sweeney Jr.
30 Jun 1961   4 1930 (USMA)31(1909–1965)
28Bernard A. Schriever
1 Jul 1961   5 1931 (Texas A&M)30(1910–2005)
29John K. Gerhart
29 Jun 1962   3 1929 (cadet)33(1907–1981)
30Dean C. Strother
30 Jun 1962   4 1931 (USMA)31(1908–2000)
31Mark E. Bradley Jr.
1 Jul 1962   3 1930 (USMA)32(1907–1999)
32John P. McConnell
1 Oct 1962   7 1932 (USMA)30(1908–1986)
33Robert M. Lee
4 Jun 1963   3 1931 (USMA)32(1909–2003)
34Jacob 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.
35Joe W. Kelly
6 Jun 1963   1 1932 (USMA)31(1910–1979)
36Gabriel P. Disosway
1 Aug 1963   5 1933 (USMA)30(1910–2001)
37Hunter Harris Jr.
18 Jul 1964   3 1932 (USMA)32(1909–1987)
38Howell M. Estes II
19 Jul 1964   5 1936 (USMA)28(1914–2007) Father of Air Force four-star general Howell M. Estes III.
39John D. Ryan
1 Dec 1964   9 1938 (USMA)26(1915–1983) Father of Air Force four-star general Michael E. Ryan.
40William H. Blanchard
19 Feb 1965   1 1938 (USMA)27(1916–1966) Died in office.
41Kenneth B. Hobson
31 Jul 1965   2 1932 (USMA)33(1908–1979)
42Bruce K. Holloway
1 Aug 1965   7 1937 (USMA)28(1912–1999)
43William S. Stone
28 Jul 1966   2 1934 (USMA)32(1910–1968) Died in office. Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1959–1962.
44Raymond J. Reeves
29 Jul 1966   3 1934 (USMA)32(1909–1998)
45James Ferguson
30 Jul 1966   4 1937 (cadet)29(1913–2000)
46David A. Burchinal
31 Jul 1966   7 1940 (cadet)26(1915–1990)
47Maurice A. Preston
1 Aug 1966   2 1937 (USMA)29(1912–1983)
48Joseph J. Nazzaro
1 Feb 1967   4 1936 (USMA)31(1913–1990)
49Thomas P. Gerrity
1 Aug 1967   1 1940 (cadet)27(1913–1968) Died in office.
50William W. Momyer
13 Dec 1967   6 1939 (cadet)28(1916–2012)
51Jack G. Merrell
29 Mar 1968   4 1939 (USMA)29(1915–1993)
52Horace M. Wade
31 Jul 1968   5 1938 (cadet)30(1916–2001)
53George S. Brown
1 Aug 1968   10 1941 (USMA)27(1918–1978)
54Joseph R. Holzapple
1 Feb 1969   2 1941 (cadet)28(1914–1973)
55Seth J. McKee
30 Jul 1969   4 1939 (cadet)30(1916–2016)
56John C. Meyer
31 Jul 1969   5 1940 (cadet)29(1919–1975)
57Jack J. Catton
1 Aug 1969   5 1941 (cadet)28(1920–1990)
58Lucius 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.
59Theodore R. Milton
31 Jul 1971   3 1940 (USMA)31(1915–2010)
60John D. Lavelle
1 Aug 1971   1 1940 (cadet)31(1916–1979)[13] Relieved, 1972.
61David C. Jones
1 Sep 1971   11 1943 (cadet)28(1921–2013)
62John W. Vogt Jr.
7 Apr 1972   3 1942 (cadet)30(1920–2010)
63Russell 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)[15]
64Paul K. Carlton
9 Oct 1972   5 1942 (cadet)30(1921–2009)
65George J. Eade
18 Apr 1973   2 1942 (cadet)31(1921–2018)
66Samuel C. Phillips
1 Aug 1973   2 1942 (ROTC)31(1921–1990) Director, National Security Agency, 1972–1973.
67Richard 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.
68Robert J. Dixon
1 Oct 1973   5 1942 (RCAF)31(1920–2003)[16]
69Timothy F. O'Keefe
8 Oct 1973   1 1940 (cadet)33(1919–1984)
70Louis L. Wilson Jr.
1 Jul 1974   3 1943 (USMA)31(1919–2010)
71Louis T. Seith
1 Aug 1974   3 1943 (USMA)31(1921–2007)
72William V. McBride
1 Sep 1974   4 1942 (cadet)32(1922–2022)
73William J. Evans
30 Aug 1975   3 1946 (USMA)29(1924–2000)
74F. Michael Rogers
1 Sep 1975   3 1943 (cadet)32(1921–2014)
75Daniel James Jr.
1 Sep 1975   3 1943 (cadet)32(1920–1978) First African-American to achieve four-star rank in any service.
76Robert E. Huyser
1 Sep 1975   6 1944 (cadet)31(1924–1997) U.S. Special Envoy to Iran, 1979.
77John W. Roberts
29 Mar 1977   2 1944 (cadet)33(1921–1999)
78William G. Moore Jr.
1 Apr 1977   2 1941 (cadet)36(1920–2012)
79Lew Allen Jr.
31 Jul 1977   5 1946 (USMA)31(1925–2010) Director, National Security Agency, 1973–1977; Director, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1982–1990.
80James R. Allen
1 Aug 1977   6 1948 (USMA)29(1925–1992) Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1974–1977.
81James E. Hill
21 Dec 1977   2 1943 (cadet)34(1921–1999)
82Bryce Poe II
2 Feb 1978   3 1946 (USMA)32(1924–2000)
83Alton D. Slay
1 Apr 1978   3 1944 (cadet)34(1924–2015)
84Wilbur L. Creech
1 May 1978   6 1949 (cadet)29(1927–2003)
85James A. Hill
10 Jul 1978   2 1944 (cadet)34(1923–2010)
86John W. Pauly
1 Aug 1978   2 1945 (USMA)33(1923–2013)
87Bennie L. Davis
1 Apr 1979   6 1950 (USMA)29(1928–2012)
88William Y. Smith
1 Jul 1979   4 1948 (USMA)31(1925–2016)
89Robert C. Mathis
1 Mar 1980   2 1948 (USMA)32(1927–2016)
90Richard L. Lawson
1 Jul 1980   6 1951 (ARNG)29(1929–2020)[17]
91Charles A. Gabriel
1 Aug 1980   6 1950 (USMA)30(1928–2003)
92Robert T. Marsh
1 Feb 1981   3 1949 (USMA)32(1925–2017)
93Thomas M. Ryan Jr.
31 Jul 1981   4 1950 (cadet)31(born 1928)
94James P. Mullins
1 Aug 1981   3 1949 (cadet)32(born 1928)
95James V. Hartinger
1 Oct 1981   3 1949 (USMA)32(1925–2000)
96Jerome F. O'Malley
1 Jun 1982   3 1953 (USMA)29(1932–1985) Died in office.
97Billy M. Minter
1 Jul 1982   2 1949 (cadet)33(1926–2005)
98Andrew P. Iosue
1 Jul 1983   3 1951 (AFROTC)32(born 1927)
99James E. Dalton
1 Aug 1983   2 1954 (USMA)29(born 1930)
100Lawrence A. Skantze
6 Oct 1983   4 1952 (USNA)31(1928–2018)
101Larry D. Welch
1 Aug 1984   6 1953 (cadet)31(born 1934) President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 1990–2003, 2006–2009.
102Robert T. Herres
1 Aug 1984   6 1954 (USNA)30(1932–2008)
103Robert W. Bazley
1 Nov 1984   2 1945 (cadet)29(1925–2012)
104Charles L. Donnelly Jr.
1 Nov 1984   3 1952 (cadet)32(1929–1994)
105Earl T. O'Loughlin
1 Nov 1984   3 1952 (cadet)32(born 1930)
*James H. Doolittle
4 Apr 1985  
  • (retired)
 0 1918 (cadet)67(1896–1993)[18] 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)[19] Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 1978.
106Robert D. Russ
22 May 1985   6 1955 (AFROTC)30(1933–1997)
107John T. Chain Jr.
1 Jul 1985   6 1956 (AFROTC)29(1934–2021) U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Politico-Military Affairs, 1984–1985.
108John L. Piotrowski
1 Aug 1985   5 1954 (cadet)31(born 1934)
109Duane H. Cassidy
8 Nov 1985   4 1954 (cadet)31(1933–2016)
110Robert H. Reed
1 Jul 1986   2 1953 (cadet)33(1929–2017)
111Thomas C. Richards
1 Dec 1986   3 1956 (VPI)30(1930–2020) Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, 1992–1993.
112Jack I. Gregory
1 Jan 1987   1 1953 (AFROTC)34(born 1931)
113Monroe W. Hatch Jr.
29 Jan 1987   3 1951 (USNA)36(born 1933)
114William L. Kirk
1 May 1987   2 1954 (cadet)33(1932–2017)
115Bernard P. Randolph
1 Aug 1987   3 1956 (cadet)31(1933–2021)
116Alfred G. Hansen
1 Aug 1987   2 1955 (cadet)32(born 1933)
117John A. Shaud
1 Jul 1988   3 1956 (USMA)32(born 1933)
118Merrill A. McPeak
1 Aug 1988   6 1957 (AFROTC)31(born 1936) Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 2010–2018.
119Michael J. Dugan
1 May 1989   2 1958 (USMA)31(born 1937) Relieved as chief of staff, 1990.
120James P. McCarthy
1 Oct 1989   3 1957 (AFROTC)32(born 1935)
121Hansford T. Johnson
1 Oct 1989   3 1959 (USAFA)30(born 1936) U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment, 2002–2005.
122Charles C. McDonald
1 Nov 1989   3 1956 (AFROTC)33(1933–2017)
123Donald J. Kutyna
1 Apr 1990   2 1957 (USMA)33(born 1933)
124Ronald W. Yates
1 Apr 1990   5 1960 (USAFA)30(born 1938)
125John M. Loh
1 Jun 1990   5 1960 (USAFA)30(born 1938)
126Robert C. Oaks
1 Jul 1990   4 1959 (USAFA)31(born 1936)
127George L. Butler
25 Jan 1991   3 1961 (USAFA)30(born 1939)
128Jimmie V. Adams
13 Feb 1991   2 1958 (AFROTC)33(born 1936)
129Michael P. C. Carns
16 May 1991   3 1959 (USAFA)32(born 1937)[21]
130James B. Davis
24 Jul 1991   2 1958 (USNA)33(born 1935)
131Chuck A. Horner
1 Jul 1992   2 1958 (AFROTC)34(born 1936)
132Ronald R. Fogleman
1 Sep 1992   5 1963 (USAFA)29(born 1942)
133Charles G. Boyd
1 Dec 1992   3 1960 (cadet)32(1938–2022)
134Henry Viccellio Jr.
1 Dec 1992   5 1963 (USAFA)29(born 1940)
135Robert L. Rutherford
1 Feb 1993   3 1961 (AFROTC)32(1938–2013)
136Thomas S. Moorman Jr.
1 Aug 1994   3 1962 (AFROTC)32(1940–2020)
137James L. Jamerson
1 Sep 1994   4 1963 (USAFA)31(born 1941)
138Joseph W. Ashy
13 Sep 1994   2 1962 (Texas A&M)32(born 1940)
139John G. Lorber
12 Oct 1994   3 1964 (USAFA)30(1941–2021)
140Billy J. Boles
1 Jul 1995   2 1962 (AFROTC)33(1938–2021)
141Joseph 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.
142Richard E. Hawley
1 Aug 1995   4 1964 (USAFA)31(born 1942)
143Eugene E. Habiger
1 Mar 1996   2 1963 (OTS)33(1939–2022) Director of Security and Emergency Operations, U.S. Department of Energy, 1999–2001.
144Michael E. Ryan
4 Apr 1996   5 1965 (USAFA)31(born 1941) Son of Air Force four-star general John D. Ryan.
145Walter Kross
1 Aug 1996   2 1964 (OTS)32(born 1942)
146Howell M. Estes III
1 Oct 1996   2 1965 (USAFA)31(born 1941) Son of Air Force four-star general Howell M. Estes Jr.
147Lloyd W. Newton
1 Apr 1997   3 1966 (AFROTC)31(born 1942)
148George T. Babbitt Jr.
1 Jun 1997   3 1965 (AFROTC)32(born 1942) Director, Defense Logistics Agency, 1996–1997.
149Ralph E. Eberhart
1 Aug 1997   7 1968 (USAFA)29(born 1946)
150Richard B. Myers
1 Sep 1997   8 1965 (AFROTC)32(born 1942) President, Kansas State University, 2016–2022. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2005.
151John 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.
152John P. Jumper
17 Nov 1997   8 1966 (VMI)31(born 1945)
153Charles T. Robertson Jr.
1 Sep 1998   3 1968 (USAFA)30(born 1946)
154Patrick K. Gamble
1 Oct 1998   3 1967 (Texas A&M)31(born 1945) President, University of Alaska System, 2010–2015.[22]
*Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
9 Dec 1998  
  • (retired)
 0 1936 (USMA)62(1912–2002)[23] Director of Aviation Security, 1970–1971; U.S. Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Safety and Consumer Affairs, 1971–1975.
155Lester L. Lyles
1 Jul 1999   4 1968 (AFROTC)31(born 1946) Director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, 1996–1999.
156Gregory S. Martin
1 Jun 2000   5 1970 (USAFA)30(born 1948)[24]
157John W. Handy
1 Jul 2000   5 1967 (OTS)33(born 1944)
158Hal M. Hornburg
1 Aug 2000   4 1968 (Texas A&M)32(born 1945)
159Charles R. Holland
1 Dec 2000   3 1968 (USAFA)32(born 1946)
160William J. Begert
1 May 2001   3 1968 (USAFA)33(born 1946)
161Robert H. Foglesong
5 Nov 2001   4 1972 (AFROTC)29(born 1945) President, Mississippi State University, 2006–2008.
162Donald G. Cook
17 Dec 2001   4 1969 (AFROTC)32(born 1946)
163Lance W. Lord
19 Apr 2002   4 1968 (AFROTC)34(born 1946)
164Charles F. Wald
1 Jan 2003   4 1971 (AFROTC)32(born 1948)
165T. Michael Moseley
1 Oct 2003   5 1971 (Texas A&M)32(born 1949) Resigned, 2008.
166Paul V. Hester
1 Aug 2004   3 1971 (AFROTC)33(born 1947)
167Michael V. Hayden
21 Apr 2005   4 1969 (AFROTC)36(born 1945)[26] Director, National Security Agency, 1999–2005.
168Ronald E. Keys
27 May 2005   2 1967 (AFROTC)38(born 1945)
169William R. Looney III
1 Aug 2005   3 1972 (USAFA)33(born 1949)
170Bruce A. Carlson
1 Sep 2005   3 1971 (AFROTC)34(born 1949) Director, National Reconnaissance Office, 2009–2012.
171Norton A. Schwartz
1 Oct 2005   7 1973 (USAFA)32(born 1951) President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 2020–present.
172John D. W. Corley
1 Nov 2005   4 1973 (USAFA)32(born 1951)
173Lance L. Smith
7 Nov 2005   2 1970 (OTS)35(born 1946)
174Duncan J. McNabb
1 Dec 2005   6 1974 (USAFA)31(born 1952)
175William T. Hobbins
1 Feb 2006   1 1969 (OTS)37(born 1946)
176Kevin P. Chilton
26 Jun 2006   5 1976 (USAFA)30(born 1954) First astronaut to attain rank of general.
177Victor E. Renuart Jr.
23 Mar 2007   3 1972 (OTS)35(born 1949)
178Arthur J. Lichte
7 Sep 2007   2 1971 (AFROTC)36(born 1949)[27]
179C. Robert Kehler
12 Oct 2007   6 1975 (AFROTC)32(born 1952)
180Carrol H. Chandler
30 Nov 2007   4 1974 (USAFA)33(born 1952)
181Roger A. Brady
9 Jan 2008   2 1968 (AFROTC)40(born 1946)
182Stephen R. Lorenz
2 Jul 2008   2 1973 (USAFA)35(born 1951)
183William M. Fraser III
9 Oct 2008   6 1974 (Texas A&M)34(born 1952)[28]
184Craig R. McKinley
17 Nov 2008   4 1974 (AFROTC)34(born 1952) First National Guard officer to achieve the rank of general.
185Donald J. Hoffman
21 Nov 2008   4 1974 (USAFA)34(born 1952)
186Douglas M. Fraser
25 Jun 2009   3 1975 (USAFA)34(born 1953)
187Gary L. North
19 Aug 2009   3 1976 (AFROTC)33(born 1954)
188Raymond E. Johns Jr.
20 Nov 2009   3 1977 (USAFA)32(born 1954)
189Edward A. Rice Jr.
17 Nov 2010   3 1978 (USAFA)32(born 1956)
190Mark A. Welsh III
13 Dec 2010   6 1976 (USAFA)34(born 1953) Dean, Bush School of Government and Public Service, 2016–present.
191William L. Shelton
5 Jan 2011   3 1976 (USAFA)35(born 1954)
192Philip M. Breedlove
14 Jan 2011   5 1977 (AFROTC)34(born 1955)
193Gilmary M. Hostage III
13 Sep 2011   3 1977 (AFROTC)34(born 1955)
194Janet C. Wolfenbarger
5 Jun 2012   3 1980 (USAFA)32(born 1958) First woman to achieve the rank of general in the Air Force.
195Larry O. Spencer
27 Jul 2012   3 1980 (OTS)32(born 1954) Served nine years in the enlisted ranks before receiving his commission in 1980.
196Herbert J. Carlisle
2 Aug 2012   5 1978 (USAFA)34(born 1957)
197Paul J. Selva
29 Nov 2012   7 1980 (USAFA)32(born 1958)
198Frank Gorenc
2 Aug 2013   3 1979 (USAFA)34(born 1957)
199Robin Rand
10 Oct 2013   5 1979 (USAFA)34(born 1958)
200Darren W. McDew
5 May 2014   4 1982 (VMI)32(born 1960)
201John E. Hyten
15 Aug 2014   7 1981 (AFROTC)33(born 1959)
202Lori J. Robinson
16 Oct 2014   4 1981 (AFROTC)33(born 1959) First woman in any service to lead a unified combatant command.
203Ellen M. Pawlikowski
8 Jun 2015   3 1978 (AFROTC)37(born 1956)
204Carlton D. Everhart II
11 Aug 2015   3 1983 (Virginia Tech)32(born 1961)
205David L. Goldfein
17 Aug 2015   5 1983 (USAFA)32(born 1959)
206Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy
12 Jul 2016   4 1986 (USAFA)30(born 1964)
207Stephen W. Wilson
22 Jul 2016   4 1981 (Texas A&M)35(born 1959/1960)
208Joseph L. Lengyel
3 Aug 2016   4 1981 (AFROTC)35(born 1959)
209Tod D. Wolters
11 Aug 2016   6 1982 (USAFA)34(born c. 1961)
210John W. Raymond
25 Oct 2016   3 1984 (AFROTC)32(born 1962)[29] Chief of Space Operations, 2019–2022.
211James M. Holmes
10 Mar 2017   3 1981 (OTS)36(born 1957)
212Charles Q. Brown Jr.
26 Jul 2018   5 1985 (AFROTC)33(born 1962)
213Timothy M. Ray
21 Aug 2018   3 1985 (USAFA)33(born 1963)
214Maryanne Miller
7 Sep 2018   2 1981 (AFROTC)37(born 1961) First Air Force Reserve officer to achieve the rank of general.
215Jeffrey L. Harrigian
1 May 2019   3 1985 (USAFA)34(born c. 1962)
216Arnold W. Bunch Jr.
31 May 2019   3 1984 (USAFA)35(born 1962)[30]
217Kenneth S. Wilsbach
8 Jul 2020   3 1985 (AFROTC)35(born c. 1963)
218Glen D. VanHerck
20 Aug 2020   3 1987 (AFROTC)33(born 1962)
219Jacqueline Van Ovost
20 Aug 2020   3 1988 (USAFA)32(born 1965)
220Mark D. Kelly
28 Aug 2020   3 1986 (AFROTC)34(born c. 1962)
221David W. Allvin
12 Nov 2020[31]   3 1986 (USAFA)34(born c. 1963)
222Anthony J. Cotton
27 Aug 2021   2 1986 (AFROTC)35
223Michael A. Minihan
5 Oct 2021   2 1989 (AFROTC)32(born c. 1967)
224Duke Z. Richardson
13 Jun 2022   1 1989 (OTS)33(born c. 1964)
225James B. Hecker
27 Jun 2022   1 1989 (USAFA)33
226Thomas A. Bussiere
7 Dec 2022   1 1985 (Norwich)37(born c. 1963)

History

Four-star positions
Structure of the United States Air ForceStructure of the United States Air ForceStructure of the United States Air ForceUnited States Intelligence CommunityNational 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
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.[32] 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.[33]

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. YatesCharles 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
Thomas 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 M. 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. YatesCharles C. McDonaldHansford T. JohnsonJames P. McCarthyMerrill A. McPeakIraq WarWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

See also

References
  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. 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. 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. Served in this position while in the United States Army.
  8. "General Orders No. 22". Headquarters, U.S. Air Force (digitized by NARA). 26 July 1945. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  9. "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.
  10. Nomination as chairman, Civil Aeronautics Board withdrawn, 1948.
  11. Retired as general, 31 July 1961; recalled as general, Sep 1961; retired as general, 30 April 1965.
  12. "Congressional Record" (PDF). 11 July 1958. p. 13456. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  13. Relieved, Apr 1972, and retired as major general.
  14. Major Wheatley (9 November 1977). "Staff Summary Sheet, 9 November 1977". Headquarters, U.S. Air Force (digitized by NARA). Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  15. 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.
  16. Transferred from Royal Canadian Air Force, 1943.
  17. Transferred from Army National Guard, 1952.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. "Senate panel opposes increase in fired Air Force chief's pension". The Baltimore Sun. 31 October 1990. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  21. Nomination as Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) withdrawn, 1995.
  22. "2010- 2015 Patrick K Gamble | UA Journey". University of Alaska. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  23. Retired as lieutenant general, Feb 1970; advanced to general on the retired list, 9 December 1998.
  24. Nomination as Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM) withdrawn, 2004.
  25. Hayden continued serving as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency as a civilian for a year after retiring from the Air Force in 2008.
  26. Retired as general, 1 July 2008; remained Director, Central Intelligence Agency (DCIA) as civilian.
  27. Retired as general, 1 January 2010; retroactively demoted to major general on the retired list, 1 February 2017.
  28. First nomination as Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (CDRUSTRANSCOM) withdrawn, 2008.
  29. Transferred to U.S. Space Force, 20 December 2019.
  30. First nomination as commander, Air Force Materiel Command (COMAFMC) returned to the President, 2019.
  31. Allvin's effective date-of-rank is 12 November 2020, which is four days before he assumed the office of vice chief of staff.
  32. 10 USC 601, Positions of importance and responsibility: generals and lieutenant generals; admirals and vice admirals
  33. 10 USC 525, Distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general officer and flag officer grades

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