David L. Goldfein

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David L. Goldfein
GENERAL DAVID L. GOLDFEIN.JPG
General David L. Goldfein, USAF
Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Born 1959 (age 64–65)
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Air Force
Years of service 1983–present
Rank US-O10 insignia.svg General
Commands held Air Force Vice Chief of Staff
Director of the Joint Staff
U.S. Air Forces Central Command
49th Fighter Wing
52nd Fighter Wing
366th Operations Group
555th Fighter Squadron
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)

David L. Goldfein (born 1959) is a General in the United States Air Force who currently serves as the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff. He was previously Director of the Joint Staff a position within the Joint Chiefs of Staff who assists the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[1] On April 26, 2016, it was announced that Goldfein was nominated to succeed Gen Mark A. Welsh as the 21st Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.[2]

Military career

Tail and canopy of then Lt Col Goldfein's F-16CG shot down during the Operation Allied Force at the Museum of Aviation, Belgrade

David L. Goldfein father's family was Jewish. Goldfein received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1983. He has commanded the U.S. Air Forces Central Command; 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.; 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; 366th Operations Group, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; and the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy. General Goldfein is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. He deployed to Southwest Asia for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and to the Vicenza Combined Air Operations Center for Operation Deliberate Force. As commander of the Triple Nickel, flying an F-16 fighter he led his squadron in Operation Allied Force and was shot down by the 3rd battery of the 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade of the Yugoslav Air Force and Air Defense on the 2 May 1999. over western Serbia but was rescued by NATO helicopters before he could be located and captured. His previous assignments include, Deputy Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and Director of Operations, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.[3] The general is a command pilot with more than 4,100 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, F-16C/D, F-117A and MQ-9.

Awards and decorations

Personal decorations
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges
Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters
V
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.
Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Unit awards
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Service Awards
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Campaign and service medals
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one service star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Width-44 ribbon with the following stripes, arranged symmetrically from the edges to the center: width-2 black, width-4 chamois, width-2 Old Glory blue, width-2 white, width-2 Old Glory red, width-6 chamouis, width-3 myrtle green up to a central width-2 black stripe
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Foreign awards
60px NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Other accoutrements
COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
United States Air Force Parachutist Badge.svg Basic Parachutist Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png Headquarters Air Force Badge

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions
Insignia Rank Date
US-O10 insignia.svg General August 17, 2015
US-O9 insignia.svg Lieutenant General August 3, 2011
US-O8 insignia.svg Major General July 3, 2010
US-O7 insignia.svg Brigadier General October 1, 2007
US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel April 1, 2001
US-O5 insignia.svg Lieutenant Colonel January 1, 1998
US-O4 insignia.svg Major November 1, 1994
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain June 1, 1987
US-O2 insignia.svg First Lieutenant June 1, 1985
US-O1 insignia.svg Second Lieutenant June 1, 1983

Education

  • 1983 Bachelor of Science degree in philosophy, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
  • 1986 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
  • 1987 Master's degree in business administration, Oklahoma City University, Okla.
  • 1992 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
  • 1995 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • 1998 Air War College, by correspondence
  • 2001 National Defense Fellowship, State Department Senior Seminar, Arlington, Va.

References

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  3. copied from the public domain source, http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/108013/lieutenant-general-david-l-goldfein.aspx
Military offices
Preceded by Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
17 August 2015 - present
Succeeded by
Incumbent