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).
There have been 234 four-star generals in the history of the U.S. Air Force. Of these, 230 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: 62 were commissioned via the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), 49 via the aviation cadet program, 45 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).
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]
width=130 | Name | width=75 class="unsortable" | Photo | width=85 | Date of rank | Position | width=20 | Yrs | width=95 | Commission | width=20 | YC | width=125 class="unsortable" | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
| 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 |
| 7 | 1915 (USMA) | 30 | (1893–1972) | ||||||||||
3 |
| 6 | 1917 (cadet) | 28 | (1889–1977) | ||||||||||
4 |
| 3 | 1914 (USMA) | 31 | (1891–1974) | ||||||||||
5 |
| 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 |
| 2 | 1918 (cadet) | 30 | (1894–1950) Died in office. | ||||||||||
7 |
| 10 | 1918 (USMA) | 32 | (1897–1982) Brother of Marine Corps four-star general Merrill B. Twining. | ||||||||||
8 |
| 3 | 1917 (direct) | 34 | (1892–1955) | ||||||||||
9 |
| 4 | 1922 (USMA) | 29 | (1900–1977) | ||||||||||
10 |
| 14 | 1929 (cadet) | 22 | (1906–1990) American Independent Party nominee for U.S. Vice president, 1968. | ||||||||||
11 |
| 11 | 1930 (USMA) | 22 | (1907–1988) | ||||||||||
12 |
| 7 | 1923 (Texas A&M) | 29 | (1902–1979) | ||||||||||
13 |
| 8 | 1920 (USMA) | 33 | (1902–1965) | ||||||||||
14 |
| 5 | 1930 (cadet) | 24 | (1904–1997) | ||||||||||
15 |
| 5 | 1924 (USMA) | 30 | (1900–1990) | ||||||||||
16 |
| 2 | 1922 (USMA) | 32 | (1898–1980) | ||||||||||
17 |
| 7 | 1927 (USMA) | 28 | (1905–1979)[9] U.S. Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization, 1946–1948. | ||||||||||
18 |
| 7 | 1929 (cadet) | 28 | (1905–1970) | ||||||||||
19 |
| 4 | 1928 (USMA) | 29 | (1904–1983) | ||||||||||
20 |
| 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 | [11] |
| 4 | 1925 (USMA) | 33 | (1903–1971) Distant cousin of Navy four-star admiral Richard H. Jackson. | |||||||||
22 |
| 4 | 1928 (USMA) | 31 | (1906–1982) | ||||||||||
23 |
| 4 | 1928 (USMA) | 31 | (1906–1971) | ||||||||||
24 |
| 3 | 1929 (USMA) | 30 | (1908–1980) Son-in-law of Navy five-star admiral Ernest J. King. | ||||||||||
25 |
| 2 | 1928 (USMA) | 33 | (1905–1986) | ||||||||||
26 |
| 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 |
| 4 | 1930 (USMA) | 31 | (1909–1965) | ||||||||||
28 |
| 5 | 1931 (Texas A&M) | 30 | (1910–2005) | ||||||||||
29 |
| 3 | 1929 (cadet) | 33 | (1907–1981) | ||||||||||
30 |
| 4 | 1931 (USMA) | 31 | (1908–2000) | ||||||||||
31 |
| 3 | 1930 (USMA) | 32 | (1907–1999) | ||||||||||
32 |
| 7 | 1932 (USMA) | 30 | (1908–1986) | ||||||||||
33 |
| 3 | 1931 (USMA) | 32 | (1909–2003) | ||||||||||
34 |
| 3 | 1931 (USMA) | 32 | (1909–2006) Assistant Administrator for Policy/DoD and Interagency Affairs, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1967–1973. | ||||||||||
35 |
| 1 | 1932 (USMA) | 31 | (1910–1979) | ||||||||||
36 |
| 5 | 1933 (USMA) | 30 | (1910–2001) | ||||||||||
37 |
| 3 | 1932 (USMA) | 32 | (1909–1987) | ||||||||||
38 |
| 5 | 1936 (USMA) | 28 | (1914–2007) Father of Air Force four-star general Howell M. Estes III. | ||||||||||
39 |
| 9 | 1938 (USMA) | 26 | (1915–1983) Father of Air Force four-star general Michael E. Ryan. | ||||||||||
40 |
| 1 | 1938 (USMA) | 27 | (1916–1966) Died in office. | ||||||||||
41 |
| 2 | 1932 (USMA) | 33 | (1908–1979) | ||||||||||
42 |
| 7 | 1937 (USMA) | 28 | (1912–1999) | ||||||||||
43 |
| 2 | 1934 (USMA) | 32 | (1910–1968) Died in office. Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1959–1962. | ||||||||||
44 |
| 3 | 1934 (USMA) | 32 | (1909–1998) | ||||||||||
45 |
| 4 | 1937 (cadet) | 29 | (1913–2000) | ||||||||||
46 |
| 7 | 1940 (cadet) | 26 | (1915–1990) | ||||||||||
47 |
| 2 | 1937 (USMA) | 29 | (1912–1983) | ||||||||||
48 |
| 4 | 1936 (USMA) | 31 | (1913–1990) | ||||||||||
49 |
| 1 | 1940 (cadet) | 27 | (1913–1968) Died in office. | ||||||||||
50 |
| 6 | 1939 (cadet) | 28 | (1916–2012) | ||||||||||
51 |
| 4 | 1939 (USMA) | 29 | (1915–1993) | ||||||||||
52 |
| 5 | 1938 (cadet) | 30 | (1916–2001) | ||||||||||
53 |
| 10 | 1941 (USMA) | 27 | (1918–1978) | ||||||||||
54 |
| 2 | 1941 (cadet) | 28 | (1914–1973) | ||||||||||
55 |
| 4 | 1939 (cadet) | 30 | (1916–2016) | ||||||||||
56 |
| 5 | 1940 (cadet) | 29 | (1919–1975) | ||||||||||
57 |
| 5 | 1941 (cadet) | 28 | (1920–1990) | ||||||||||
58 |
| 5 | 1942 (USMA) | 28 | (1919–1994) Son of Army four-star general Lucius D. Clay; grandson of U.S. Senator Alexander S. Clay. | ||||||||||
59 |
| 3 | 1940 (USMA) | 31 | (1915–2010) | ||||||||||
60 |
| 1 | 1940 (cadet) | 31 | (1916–1979)[12] Relieved, 1972. | ||||||||||
61 |
| 11 | 1943 (cadet) | 28 | (1921–2013) | ||||||||||
62 |
| 3 | 1942 (cadet) | 30 | (1920–2010) | ||||||||||
63 |
| 5 | 1943 (cadet) | 29 | (1920–2007) Father-in-law of Air Force four-star general Joseph W. Ralston. | ||||||||||
| 0 | 1942 (cadet) | 30 | (1921–1972)[14] | |||||||||||
64 |
| 5 | 1942 (cadet) | 30 | (1921–2009) | ||||||||||
65 |
| 2 | 1942 (cadet) | 31 | (1921–2018) | ||||||||||
66 |
| 2 | 1942 (ROTC) | 31 | (1921–1990) Director, National Security Agency, 1972–1973. | ||||||||||
67 |
| 8 | 1942 (cadet) | 31 | (1919–1989) U.S. Commissioner for the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Standing Consultative Commission, 1982–1989. | ||||||||||
68 |
| 5 | 1942 (RCAF) | 31 | (1920–2003)[15] | ||||||||||
69 |
| 1 | 1940 (cadet) | 33 | (1919–1984) | ||||||||||
70 |
| 3 | 1943 (USMA) | 31 | (1919–2010) | ||||||||||
71 |
| 3 | 1943 (USMA) | 31 | (1921–2007) | ||||||||||
72 |
| 4 | 1942 (cadet) | 32 | (1922–2022) | ||||||||||
73 |
| 3 | 1946 (USMA) | 29 | (1924–2000) | ||||||||||
74 |
| 3 | 1943 (cadet) | 32 | (1921–2014) | ||||||||||
75 |
| 3 | 1943 (cadet) | 32 | (1920–1978) First African-American to achieve four-star rank in any service. | ||||||||||
76 |
| 6 | 1944 (cadet) | 31 | (1924–1997) U.S. Special Envoy to Iran, 1979. | ||||||||||
77 |
| 2 | 1944 (cadet) | 33 | (1921–1999) | ||||||||||
78 |
| 2 | 1941 (cadet) | 36 | (1920–2012) | ||||||||||
79 |
| 5 | 1946 (USMA) | 31 | (1925–2010) Director, National Security Agency, 1973–1977; Director, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1982–1990. | ||||||||||
80 |
| 6 | 1948 (USMA) | 29 | (1925–1992) Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1974–1977. | ||||||||||
81 |
| 2 | 1943 (cadet) | 34 | (1921–1999) | ||||||||||
82 |
| 3 | 1946 (USMA) | 32 | (1924–2000) | ||||||||||
83 |
| 3 | 1944 (cadet) | 34 | (1924–2015) | ||||||||||
84 |
| 6 | 1949 (cadet) | 29 | (1927–2003) | ||||||||||
85 |
| 2 | 1944 (cadet) | 34 | (1923–2010) | ||||||||||
86 |
| 2 | 1945 (USMA) | 33 | (1923–2013) | ||||||||||
87 |
| 6 | 1950 (USMA) | 29 | (1928–2012) | ||||||||||
88 |
| 4 | 1948 (USMA) | 31 | (1925–2016) | ||||||||||
89 |
| 2 | 1948 (USMA) | 32 | (1927–2016) | ||||||||||
90 |
| 6 | 1951 (ARNG) | 29 | (1929–2020)[16] | ||||||||||
91 |
| 6 | 1950 (USMA) | 30 | (1928–2003) | ||||||||||
92 |
| 3 | 1949 (USMA) | 32 | (1925–2017) | ||||||||||
93 |
| 4 | 1950 (cadet) | 31 | (born 1928) | ||||||||||
94 |
| 3 | 1949 (cadet) | 32 | (born 1928) | ||||||||||
95 |
| 3 | 1949 (USMA) | 32 | (1925–2000) | ||||||||||
96 |
| 3 | 1953 (USMA) | 29 | (1932–1985) Died in office. | ||||||||||
97 |
| 2 | 1949 (cadet) | 33 | (1926–2005) | ||||||||||
98 |
| 3 | 1951 (AFROTC) | 32 | (born 1927) | ||||||||||
99 |
| 2 | 1954 (USMA) | 29 | (born 1930) | ||||||||||
100 |
| 4 | 1952 (USNA) | 31 | (1928–2018) | ||||||||||
101 |
| 6 | 1953 (cadet) | 31 | (born 1934) President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 1990–2003, 2006–2009. | ||||||||||
102 |
| 6 | 1954 (USNA) | 30 | (1932–2008) | ||||||||||
103 |
| 2 | 1945 (cadet) | 29 | (1925–2012) | ||||||||||
104 |
| 3 | 1952 (cadet) | 32 | (1929–1994) | ||||||||||
105 |
| 3 | 1952 (cadet) | 32 | (1930–2023) | ||||||||||
| 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. | |||||||||||
| 0 | 1917 (direct) | 68 | (1896–1987)[18] Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 1978. | |||||||||||
106 |
| 6 | 1955 (AFROTC) | 30 | (1933–1997) | ||||||||||
107 |
| 6 | 1956 (AFROTC) | 29 | (1934–2021) U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Politico-Military Affairs, 1984–1985. | ||||||||||
108 |
| 5 | 1954 (cadet) | 31 | (born 1934) | ||||||||||
109 |
| 4 | 1954 (cadet) | 31 | (1933–2016) | ||||||||||
110 |
| 2 | 1953 (cadet) | 33 | (1929–2017) | ||||||||||
111 |
| 3 | 1956 (VPI) | 30 | (1930–2020) Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, 1992–1993. | ||||||||||
112 |
| 1 | 1953 (AFROTC) | 34 | (born 1931) | ||||||||||
113 |
| 3 | 1951 (USNA) | 36 | (born 1933) | ||||||||||
114 |
| 2 | 1954 (cadet) | 33 | (1932–2017) | ||||||||||
115 |
| 3 | 1956 (cadet) | 31 | (1933–2021) | ||||||||||
116 |
| 2 | 1955 (cadet) | 32 | (born 1933) | ||||||||||
117 |
| 3 | 1956 (USMA) | 32 | (born 1933) | ||||||||||
118 |
| 6 | 1957 (AFROTC) | 31 | (born 1936) Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 2010–2018. | ||||||||||
119 |
| 2 | 1958 (USMA) | 31 | (born 1937) Relieved as chief of staff, 1990. | ||||||||||
120 |
| 3 | 1957 (AFROTC) | 32 | (born 1935) | ||||||||||
121 |
| 3 | 1959 (USAFA) | 30 | (born 1936) U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment, 2002–2005. | ||||||||||
122 |
| 3 | 1956 (AFROTC) | 33 | (1933–2017) | ||||||||||
123 |
| 2 | 1957 (USMA) | 33 | (born 1933) | ||||||||||
124 |
| 5 | 1960 (USAFA) | 30 | (born 1938) | ||||||||||
125 |
| 5 | 1960 (USAFA) | 30 | (born 1938) | ||||||||||
126 |
| 4 | 1959 (USAFA) | 31 | (born 1936) | ||||||||||
127 |
| 3 | 1961 (USAFA) | 30 | (born 1939) | ||||||||||
128 |
| 2 | 1958 (AFROTC) | 33 | (born 1936) | ||||||||||
129 |
| 3 | 1959 (USAFA) | 32 | (1937–2023)[20] | ||||||||||
130 |
| 2 | 1958 (USNA) | 33 | (born 1935) | ||||||||||
131 |
| 2 | 1958 (AFROTC) | 34 | (born 1936) | ||||||||||
132 |
| 5 | 1963 (USAFA) | 29 | (born 1942) | ||||||||||
133 |
| 3 | 1960 (cadet) | 32 | (1938–2022) | ||||||||||
134 |
| 5 | 1963 (USAFA) | 29 | (born 1940) | ||||||||||
135 |
| 3 | 1961 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1938–2013) | ||||||||||
136 |
| 3 | 1962 (AFROTC) | 32 | (1940–2020) | ||||||||||
137 |
| 4 | 1963 (USAFA) | 31 | (born 1941) | ||||||||||
138 |
| 2 | 1962 (Texas A&M) | 32 | (born 1940) | ||||||||||
139 |
| 3 | 1964 (USAFA) | 30 | (1941–2021) | ||||||||||
140 |
| 2 | 1962 (AFROTC) | 33 | (1938–2021) | ||||||||||
141 |
| 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 |
| 4 | 1964 (USAFA) | 31 | (born 1942) | ||||||||||
143 |
| 2 | 1963 (OTS) | 33 | (1939–2022) Director of Security and Emergency Operations, U.S. Department of Energy, 1999–2001. | ||||||||||
144 |
| 5 | 1965 (USAFA) | 31 | (born 1941) Son of Air Force four-star general John D. Ryan. | ||||||||||
145 |
| 2 | 1964 (OTS) | 32 | (born 1942) | ||||||||||
146 |
| 2 | 1965 (USAFA) | 31 | (1941–2024) Son of Air Force four-star general Howell M. Estes Jr. | ||||||||||
147 |
| 3 | 1966 (AFROTC) | 31 | (born 1942) | ||||||||||
148 |
| 3 | 1965 (AFROTC) | 32 | (born 1942) Director, Defense Logistics Agency, 1996–1997. | ||||||||||
149 |
| 7 | 1968 (USAFA) | 29 | (born 1946) | ||||||||||
150 |
| 8 | 1965 (AFROTC) | 32 | (born 1942) President, Kansas State University, 2016–2022. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2005. | ||||||||||
151 |
| 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 |
| 8 | 1966 (VMI) | 31 | (born 1945) | ||||||||||
153 |
| 3 | 1968 (USAFA) | 30 | (born 1946) | ||||||||||
154 |
| 3 | 1967 (Texas A&M) | 31 | (born 1945) President, University of Alaska System, 2010–2015.[21] | ||||||||||
| 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 |
| 4 | 1968 (AFROTC) | 31 | (born 1946) Director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, 1996–1999. | ||||||||||
156 |
| 5 | 1970 (USAFA) | 30 | (born 1948)[23] | ||||||||||
157 |
| 5 | 1967 (OTS) | 33 | (born 1944) | ||||||||||
158 |
| 4 | 1968 (Texas A&M) | 32 | (born 1945) | ||||||||||
159 |
| 3 | 1968 (USAFA) | 32 | (born 1946) | ||||||||||
160 |
| 3 | 1968 (USAFA) | 33 | (born 1946) | ||||||||||
161 |
| 4 | 1972 (AFROTC) | 29 | (born 1945) President, Mississippi State University, 2006–2008. | ||||||||||
162 |
| 4 | 1969 (AFROTC) | 32 | (born 1946) | ||||||||||
163 |
| 4 | 1968 (AFROTC) | 34 | (born 1946) | ||||||||||
164 |
| 4 | 1971 (AFROTC) | 32 | (born 1948) | ||||||||||
165 |
| 5 | 1971 (Texas A&M) | 32 | (born 1949) Resigned, 2008. | ||||||||||
166 |
| 3 | 1971 (AFROTC) | 33 | (born 1947) | ||||||||||
167 |
| 4 | 1969 (AFROTC) | 36 | (born 1945)[25] Director, National Security Agency, 1999–2005. | ||||||||||
168 |
| 2 | 1967 (AFROTC) | 38 | (born 1945) | ||||||||||
169 |
| 3 | 1972 (USAFA) | 33 | (born 1949) | ||||||||||
170 |
| 3 | 1971 (AFROTC) | 34 | (born 1949) Director, National Reconnaissance Office, 2009–2012. | ||||||||||
171 |
| 7 | 1973 (USAFA) | 32 | (born 1951) President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 2020–present. | ||||||||||
172 |
| 4 | 1973 (USAFA) | 32 | (born 1951) | ||||||||||
173 |
| 2 | 1970 (OTS) | 35 | (born 1946) | ||||||||||
174 |
| 6 | 1974 (USAFA) | 31 | (born 1952) | ||||||||||
175 |
| 1 | 1969 (OTS) | 37 | (born 1946) | ||||||||||
176 |
| 5 | 1976 (USAFA) | 30 | (born 1954) First astronaut to attain rank of general. | ||||||||||
177 |
| 3 | 1972 (OTS) | 35 | (born 1949) | ||||||||||
178 |
| 2 | 1971 (AFROTC) | 36 | (born 1949)[26] | ||||||||||
179 |
| 6 | 1975 (AFROTC) | 32 | (born 1952) | ||||||||||
180 |
| 4 | 1974 (USAFA) | 33 | (born 1952) | ||||||||||
181 |
| 2 | 1968 (AFROTC) | 40 | (born 1946) | ||||||||||
182 |
| 2 | 1973 (USAFA) | 35 | (born 1951) | ||||||||||
183 |
| 6 | 1974 (Texas A&M) | 34 | (born 1952)[27] | ||||||||||
184 |
| 4 | 1974 (AFROTC) | 34 | (born 1952) First National Guard officer to achieve the rank of general. | ||||||||||
185 |
| 4 | 1974 (USAFA) | 34 | (born 1952) | ||||||||||
186 |
| 3 | 1975 (USAFA) | 34 | (born 1953) | ||||||||||
187 |
| 3 | 1976 (AFROTC) | 33 | (born 1954) | ||||||||||
188 |
| 3 | 1977 (USAFA) | 32 | (born 1954) | ||||||||||
189 |
| 3 | 1978 (USAFA) | 32 | (born 1956) | ||||||||||
190 |
| 6 | 1976 (USAFA) | 34 | (born 1953) Dean, Bush School of Government and Public Service, 2016–2023; President, Texas A&M University, 2023–present. | ||||||||||
191 |
| 3 | 1976 (USAFA) | 35 | (born 1954) | ||||||||||
192 |
| 5 | 1977 (AFROTC) | 34 | (born 1955) | ||||||||||
193 |
| 3 | 1977 (AFROTC) | 34 | (born 1955) | ||||||||||
194 |
| 3 | 1980 (USAFA) | 32 | (born 1958) First woman to achieve the rank of general in the Air Force. | ||||||||||
195 |
| 3 | 1980 (OTS) | 32 | (born 1954) Served nine years in the enlisted ranks before receiving his commission in 1980. | ||||||||||
196 |
| 5 | 1978 (USAFA) | 34 | (born 1957) | ||||||||||
197 |
| 7 | 1980 (USAFA) | 32 | (born 1958) | ||||||||||
198 |
| 3 | 1979 (USAFA) | 34 | (born 1957) | ||||||||||
199 |
| 5 | 1979 (USAFA) | 34 | (born 1958) | ||||||||||
200 |
| 4 | 1982 (VMI) | 32 | (born 1960) | ||||||||||
201 |
| 7 | 1981 (AFROTC) | 33 | (born 1959) | ||||||||||
202 |
| 4 | 1981 (AFROTC) | 33 | (born 1959) First woman in any service to lead a unified combatant command. | ||||||||||
203 |
| 3 | 1978 (AFROTC) | 37 | (born 1956) | ||||||||||
204 |
| 3 | 1983 (Virginia Tech) | 32 | (born 1961) | ||||||||||
205 |
| 5 | 1983 (USAFA) | 32 | (born 1959) | ||||||||||
206 |
| 4 | 1986 (USAFA) | 30 | (born 1964) | ||||||||||
207 |
| 4 | 1981 (Texas A&M) | 35 | (born 1959/1960) | ||||||||||
208 |
| 4 | 1981 (AFROTC) | 35 | (born 1959) | ||||||||||
209 |
| 6 | 1982 (USAFA) | 34 | (born) | ||||||||||
210 |
| 3 | 1984 (AFROTC) | 32 | (born 1962)[28] Chief of Space Operations, 2019–2022. | ||||||||||
211 |
| 3 | 1981 (OTS) | 36 | (born 1957) | ||||||||||
212 |
| 6 | 1985 (AFROTC) | 33 | (born 1962) | ||||||||||
213 |
| 3 | 1985 (USAFA) | 33 | (born 1963) | ||||||||||
214 |
| 2 | 1981 (AFROTC) | 37 | (born 1961) First Air Force Reserve officer to achieve the rank of general. | ||||||||||
215 |
| 3 | 1985 (USAFA) | 34 | (born) | ||||||||||
216 |
| 3 | 1984 (USAFA) | 35 | (born 1962)[29] | ||||||||||
217 |
| 4 | 1985 (AFROTC) | 35 | (born) | ||||||||||
218 |
| 4 | 1987 (AFROTC) | 33 | (born 1962) | ||||||||||
219 |
| 4 | 1988 (USAFA) | 32 | (born 1965) | ||||||||||
220 |
| 4 | 1986 (AFROTC) | 34 | (born) | ||||||||||
221 | [30] |
| 4 | 1986 (USAFA) | 34 | (born) | |||||||||
222 |
| 3 | 1986 (AFROTC) | 35 | |||||||||||
223 |
| 3 | 1989 (AFROTC) | 32 | (born) | ||||||||||
224 |
| 2 | 1989 (OTS) | 33 | (born) | ||||||||||
225 |
| 2 | 1989 (USAFA) | 33 | |||||||||||
226 |
| 2 | 1985 (Norwich) | 37 | (born) | ||||||||||
227 |
| 1 | 1989 (AFROTC) | 34 | (born) | ||||||||||
228 |
| 0 | 1991 (AFROTC) | 33 | (1969– ) | ||||||||||
229 |
| 0 | 1989 (USAFA) | 35 | |||||||||||
230 |
| 0 | 1988 (USAFA) | 36 |
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. 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.
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.
Define $start = 1940Define $end = 2000
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bar:arnold from: 1943 till: 1946 color:aaf text:"Henry H. Arnold" bar:mcnarney from: 1945 till: 1947 color:aaf bar:mcnarney from: 1947 till: 1949 color:airforce bar:mcnarney from: 1949 till: 1952 color:joint text:"Joseph T. McNarney" bar:kenney from: 1945 till: 1947 color:aaf bar:kenney from: 1947 till: 1948 color:sac bar:kenney from: 1948 till: 1951 color:airforce text:"George C. Kenney" bar:spaatz from: 1945 till: 1947 color:aaf bar:spaatz from: 1947 till: 1948 color:csaf text:"Carl A. Spaatz" bar:vandenberg from: 1947 till: 1948 color:vcsaf bar:vandenberg from: 1948 till: 1953 color:csaf text:"Hoyt S. Vandenberg" bar:fairchild from: 1948 till: 1950 color:vcsaf text:"Muir S. Fairchild" bar:twining from: 1950 till: 1953 color:vcsaf bar:twining from: 1953 till: 1957 color:csaf bar:twining from: 1957 till: 1960 color:jcs text:"Nathan F. Twining" bar:cannon from: 1951 till: 1954 color:tac text:"John K. Cannon" bar:chidlaw from: 1951 till: 1955 color:norad text:"Benjamin W. Chidlaw" bar:lemay from: 1951 till: 1957 color:sac bar:lemay from: 1957 till: 1961 color:vcsaf bar:lemay from: 1961 till: 1965 color:csaf text:"Curtis E. LeMay" bar:norstad from: 1952 till: 1953 color:airforce bar:norstad from: 1953 till: 1963 color:joint text:"Lauris Norstad" bar:weyland from: 1952 till: 1954 color:airforce bar:weyland from: 1954 till: 1959 color:tac text:"Otto P. Weyland" bar:white from: 1953 till: 1957 color:vcsaf bar:white from: 1957 till: 1961 color:csaf text:"Thomas D. White" bar:rawlings from: 1954 till: 1959 color:airforce text:"Edwin W. Rawlings" bar:partridge from: 1954 till: 1955 color:airforce bar:partridge from: 1955 till: 1959 color:norad text:"Earle E. Partridge" bar:orvalcook from: 1954 till: 1956 color:joint text:"Orval R. Cook" bar:kuter from: 1955 till: 1959 color:airforce bar:kuter from: 1959 till: 1962 color:norad text:"Laurence S. Kuter" bar:power from: 1957 till: 1964 color:sac text:"Thomas S. Power" bar:everest from: 1957 till: 1959 color:airforce bar:everest from: 1959 till: 1961 color:tac text:"Frank F. Everest" bar:leonjohnson from: 1957 till: 1961 color:joint bar:leonjohnson from: 1961 till: 1965 color:federal text:"Leon W. Johnson" bar:cabell from: 1958 till: 1962 color:federal text:"Charles P. Cabell" bar:anderson from: 1959 till: 1961 color:airforce bar:anderson from: 1961 till: 1963 color:joint text:"Samuel E. Anderson" bar:odonnell from: 1959 till: 1963 color:airforce text:"Emmett O'Donnell Jr." bar:fredericsmith from: 1959 till: 1961 color:airforce bar:fredericsmith from: 1961 till: 1962 color:vcsaf text:"Frederic H. Smith Jr." bar:landon from: 1961 till: 1963 color:airforce text:"Truman H. Landon" bar:williammckee from: 1961 till: 1962 color:airforce bar:williammckee from: 1962 till: 1964 color:vcsaf text:"William F. McKee" bar:sweeney from: 1961 till: 1965 color:tac text:"Walter C. Sweeney Jr." bar:schriever from: 1961 till: 1966 color:airforce text:"Bernard A. Schriever" bar:gerhart from: 1962 till: 1965 color:norad text:"John K. Gerhart" bar:strother from: 1962 till: 1965 color:joint bar:strother from: 1965 till: 1966 color:norad text:"Dean C. Strother" bar:bradley from: 1962 till: 1965 color:airforce text:"Mark E. Bradley" bar:mcconnell from: 1962 till: 1964 color:joint bar:mcconnell from: 1964 till: 1965 color:vcsaf bar:mcconnell from: 1965 till: 1969 color:csaf text:"John P. McConnell" bar:lee from: 1963 till: 1966 color:joint text:"Robert M. Lee" bar:smart from: 1963 till: 1964 color:airforce bar:smart from: 1964 till: 1966 color:joint text:"Jacob E. Smart" bar:kelly from: 1963 till: 1964 color:mac text:"Joe W. Kelly" bar:disosway from: 1963 till: 1965 color:airforce bar:disosway from: 1965 till: 1968 color:tac text:"Gabriel P. Disosway" bar:harris from: 1964 till: 1967 color:airforce text:"Hunter Harris Jr." bar:estesjr from: 1964 till: 1969 color:mac text:"Howell M. Estes Jr." bar:johnryan from: 1964 till: 1967 color:sac bar:johnryan from: 1967 till: 1968 color:airforce bar:johnryan from: 1968 till: 1969 color:vcsaf bar:johnryan from: 1969 till: 1973 color:csaf text:"John D. Ryan" bar:blanchard from: 1965 till: 1966 color:vcsaf text:"William H. Blanchard" bar:hobson from: 1965 till: 1967 color:airforce text:"Kenneth B. Hobson" bar:holloway from: 1965 till: 1966 color:airforce bar:holloway from: 1966 till: 1968 color:vcsaf bar:holloway from: 1968 till: 1972 color:sac text:"Bruce K. Holloway" bar:stone from: 1966 till: 1968 color:joint text:"William S. Stone" bar:reeves from: 1966 till: 1969 color:norad text:"Raymond J. Reeves" bar:ferguson from: 1966 till: 1970 color:airforce text:"James Ferguson" bar:burchinal from: 1966 till: 1973 color:joint text:"David A. Burchinal" bar:preston from: 1966 till: 1968 color:airforce text:"Maurice A. Preston" bar:nazzaro from: 1967 till: 1968 color:sac bar:nazzaro from: 1968 till: 1971 color:airforce text:"Joseph J. Nazzaro" bar:gerrity from: 1967 till: 1968 color:airforce text:"Thomas P. Gerrity" bar:momyer from: 1967 till: 1968 color:airforce bar:momyer from: 1968 till: 1973 color:tac text:"William W. Momyer" bar:merrell from: 1968 till: 1972 color:airforce text:"Jack G. Merrell" bar:wade from: 1968 till: 1969 color:airforce bar:wade from: 1969 till: 1972 color:joint bar:wade from: 1972 till: 1973 color:vcsaf text:"Horace M. Wade" bar:brown from: 1968 till: 1973 color:airforce bar:brown from: 1973 till: 1974 color:csaf bar:brown from: 1974 till: 1978 color:jcs text:"George S. Brown" bar:holzapple from: 1969 till: 1971 color:airforce text:"Joseph R. Holzapple" bar:sethmckee from: 1969 till: 1973 color:norad text:"Seth J. McKee" bar:meyer from: 1969 till: 1972 color:vcsaf bar:meyer from: 1972 till: 1974 color:sac text:"John C. Meyer" bar:catton from: 1969 till: 1972 color:mac bar:catton from: 1972 till: 1974 color:airforce text:"Jack J. Catton" bar:clay from: 1970 till: 1973 color:airforce bar:clay from: 1973 till: 1975 color:norad text:"Lucius D. Clay Jr." bar:milton from: 1971 till: 1974 color:joint text:"Theodore R. Milton" bar:lavelle from: 1971 till: 1972 color:airforce text:"John D. Lavelle" bar:jones from: 1971 till: 1974 color:airforce bar:jones from: 1974 till: 1978 color:csaf bar:jones from: 1978 till: 1982 color:jcs text:"David C. Jones" bar:vogt from: 1972 till: 1975 color:airforce text:"John W. Vogt" bar:dougherty from: 1972 till: 1974 color:joint bar:dougherty from: 1974 till: 1977.67 color:sac bar:dougherty from: 1977.67 till: 1977.75 color:airforce text:"Russell E. Dougherty" bar:simler from: 1972 till: 1972 color:mac text:"George B. Simler" bar:carlton from: 1972 till: 1977 color:mac text:"Paul K. Carlton" bar:eade from: 1973 till: 1975 color:joint text:"George J. Eade" bar:phillips from: 1973 till: 1975 color:airforce text:"Samuel C. Phillips" bar:ellis from: 1973 till: 1975 color:vcsaf bar:ellis from: 1975 till: 1977 color:airforce bar:ellis from: 1977 till: 1981 color:sac text:"Richard H. Ellis" bar:dixon from: 1973 till: 1978 color:tac text:"Robert J. Dixon" bar:okeefe from: 1973 till: 1974 color:airforce text:"Timothy F. O'Keefe" bar:wilson from: 1974 till: 1977 color:airforce text:"Louis L. Wilson Jr." bar:seith from: 1974 till: 1977 color:joint text:"Louis T. Seith" bar:mcbride from: 1974 till: 1975 color:airforce bar:mcbride from: 1975 till: 1978 color:vcsaf text:"William V. McBride" bar:evans from: 1975 till: 1978 color:airforce text:"William J. Evans" bar:rogers from: 1975 till: 1978 color:airforce text:"F. Michael Rogers" bar:james from: 1975 till: 1977 color:norad bar:james from: 1977 till: 1978 color:airforce text:"Daniel James Jr." bar:huyser from: 1975 till: 1979 color:joint bar:huyser from: 1979 till: 1981 color:mac text:"Robert E. Huyser" bar:roberts from: 1977 till: 1979 color:airforce text:"John W. Roberts" bar:moore from: 1977 till: 1979 color:mac text:"William G. Moore Jr." bar:lewallen from: 1977 till: 1978 color:airforce bar:lewallen from: 1978 till: 1978 color:vcsaf bar:lewallen from: 1978 till: 1982 color:csaf text:"Lew Allen Jr." bar:jamesallen from: 1977 till: 1981 color:joint bar:jamesallen from: 1981 till: 1983 color:mac text:"James R. Allen" bar:jamesehill from: 1977 till: 1980 color:norad text:"James E. Hill" bar:poe from: 1978 till: 1981 color:airforce text:"Bryce Poe II" bar:slay from: 1978 till: 1981 color:airforce text:"Alton D. Slay" bar:creech from: 1978 till: 1984 color:tac text:"Wilbur L. Creech" bar:jamesahill from: 1978 till: 1980 color:vcsaf text:"James A. Hill" bar:pauly from: 1978 till: 1980 color:airforce text:"John W. Pauly" bar:benniedavis from: 1979 till: 1981 color:airforce bar:benniedavis from: 1981 till: 1985 color:sac text:"Bennie L. Davis" bar:williamsmith from: 1979 till: 1983 color:joint text:"William Y. Smith" bar:mathis from: 1980 till: 1982 color:vcsaf text:"Robert C. Mathis" bar:lawson from: 1980 till: 1983 color:joint text:"Richard L. Lawson" bar:gabriel from: 1980 till: 1982 color:airforce bar:gabriel from: 1982 till: 1986 color:csaf text:"Charles A. Gabriel" bar:marsh from: 1981 till: 1984 color:airforce text:"Robert T. Marsh" bar:thomasryan from: 1981 till: 1983 color:airforce bar:thomasryan from: 1983 till: 1985 color:mac text:"Thomas M. Ryan Jr." bar:mullins from: 1981 till: 1984 color:airforce text:"James P. Mullins" bar:hartinger from: 1981 till: 1984 color:norad text:"James V. Hartinger" bar:omalley from: 1982 till: 1983 color:vcsaf bar:omalley from: 1983 till: 1984 color:airforce bar:omalley from: 1984 till: 1985 color:tac text:"Jerome F. O'Malley" bar:minter from: 1982 till: 1984 color:airforce text:"Billy M. Minter" bar:iosue from: 1983 till: 1986 color:airforce text:"Andrew P. Iosue" bar:dalton from: 1983 till: 1985 color:joint text:"James E. Dalton" bar:skantze from: 1983 till: 1984 color:vcsaf bar:skantze from: 1984 till: 1987 color:airforce text:"Lawrence A. Skantze" bar:welch from: 1984 till: 1985 color:vcsaf bar:welch from: 1985 till: 1986 color:sac bar:welch from: 1986 till: 1990 color:csaf text:"Larry D. Welch" bar:herres from: 1984 till: 1987 color:norad bar:herres from: 1987 till: 1990 color:jcs text:"Robert T. Herres" bar:bazley from: 1984 till: 1986 color:airforce text:"Robert W. Bazley" bar:donnelly from: 1984 till: 1987 color:airforce text:"Charles L. Donnelly Jr." bar:oloughlin from: 1984 till: 1987 color:airforce text:"Earl T. 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Shaud" bar:mcpeak from: 1988 till: 1991 color:airforce bar:mcpeak from: 1991 till: 1994 color:csaf text:"Merrill A. McPeak" bar:dugan from: 1989 till: 1990 color:airforce bar:dugan from: 1990 till: 1991 color:csaf text:"Michael J. Dugan" bar:mccarthy from: 1989 till: 1992 color:joint text:"James P. McCarthy" bar:hansfordjohnson from: 1989 till: 1992 color:mac text:"Hansford T. Johnson" bar:mcdonald from: 1989 till: 1992 color:airforce text:"Charles C. McDonald" bar:kutyna from: 1990 till: 1992 color:norad text:"Donald Y. Kutyna" bar:yates from: 1990 till: 1995 color:airforce text:"Ronald W. Yates" bar:loh from: 1990 till: 1991 color:vcsaf bar:loh from: 1991 till: 1995 color:tac text:"John M. Loh" bar:oaks from: 1990 till: 1994 color:airforce text:"Robert C. Oaks"