John P. Jumper

General John P. Jumper is Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.

General John P. Jumper, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force

General Jumper was born in Paris, Texas. He earned his commission as a distinguished graduate of Virginia Military Institute's ROTC program in 1966. He has commanded a fighter squadron, two fighter wings, a numbered Air Force, and U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Allied Air Forces Central Europe. Prior to assuming his current position, the general served as Commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base.

General Jumper has also served at the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, as the Senior Military Assistant to two secretaries of defense, and as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Roles and Missions. A command pilot with more than 4,700 flying hours, principally in fighter aircraft, General Jumper served two tours in Southeast Asia, accumulating more than 1,400 combat hours.

He also has television acting experience, having played himself in the science fiction series Stargate SG-1.

Succession

Preceded by Gen. Michael E. Ryan

Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force 2001–present

Succeeded by ...

Education

1. 1966 Bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington
2. 1975 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
3. 1978 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
4. 1979 Master of business administration degree, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California
5. 1982 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

Assignments

1. June 1966 – July 1967, student pilot, 3550th Student Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia
2. July 1967 – September 1967, C-7 upgrade training, Sewart AFB, Tennessee
3. October 1967 – October 1968, C-7 pilot, 459th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam
4. November 1968 – July 1969, F-4 upgrade training, 431st Tactical Fighter Squadron, George AFB, California
5. July 1969 – May 1970, instructor pilot, weapons officer and fast forward air controller, 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand
6. June 1970 – July 1974, instructor pilot, flight examiner and standardization and evaluation chief, 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Bentwaters, England
7. July 1974 – August 1977, flight instructor, later, flight commander, U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
8. August 1977 – June 1978, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
9. June 1978 – August 1981, Staff Officer for Operations and Readiness, Tactical Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
10. August 1981 – July 1982, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. July 1982 – February 1983, Chief of Safety, 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada
12. March 1983 – July 1983, Commander, 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada
13. July 1983 – August 1986, Special Assistant and Executive Officer to the Commander, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virgina
14. August 1986 – February 1988, Vice Commander, later, Commander, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
15. February 1988 – May 1990, Commander, 57th Fighter Weapons Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada
16. June 1990 – April 1992, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
17. May 1992 – February 1994, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.
18. February 1994 – July 1994, Special Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff for Roles and Missions, Washington, D.C.
19. August 1994 – June 1996, Commander, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
20. June 1996 – November 1997, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
21. December 1997 – February 2000, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
22. February 2000 – September 2001, Commander, Headquarters ACC, Langley Air Force Base, Viginia
23. September 2001 – present, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

Flight information

• Rating: Command pilot
• Flight hours: More than 5,000
• Aircraft flown: C-7, C-20, C-37, T-37, T-38, F-4, F-15, F-16 and Eurofighter Typhoon.

Major awards and decorations

• Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
• Distinguished Service Medal
• Defense Superior Service Medal
• Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
• Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters
• Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
• Air Medal with 17 oak leaf clusters
• Vietnam Service Medal with five service stars
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Effective dates of promotion

1. Second Lieutenant June 12, 1966
2. First Lieutenant December 12, 1967
3. Captain June 12, 1969
4. Major January 1, 1978
5. Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 1980
6. Colonel Oct. 1, 1985
7. Brigadier General August 1, 1989
8. Major General February 1, 1992
9. Lieutenant General September 1, 1994
10. General November 17, 1997

References

General John P. Jumper