David L. Goldfein

David L. Goldfein
Born 1959 (age 5657)
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service 1983–present (33 years)
Rank General
Commands held Air Force Chief of Staff
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 Lee Goldfein (born 1959) is a General in the United States Air Force who currently serves as the Air Force Chief of Staff. Before, he served as 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 General Mark Welsh as the 21st Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. His confirmation hearing took place on June 16, and he succeeded Welsh on July 1, two days after his confirmation.[2] Gen. Goldfein is the second Jewish U.S. Air Force Chief, after General Norton Schwartz.[3]

Military career

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

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. Goldfein is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School.

Goldfein flew combat missions during the Gulf War, and later deployed 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. On 2 May 1999, Goldfein's F-16 was shot down[4] over western Serbia by a S-125 Surface to Air Missile fired by the 3rd battery of the 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade of the Yugoslav Air Force, but was rescued by NATO helicopters before he could be located and captured. His other 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.[5]

The general is a command pilot with more than 4,200 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, F-16C/D, F-117A, MC-12W, and MQ-9.[6]

Awards and decorations

Personal decorations
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor device and 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
Air Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Unit awards
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Service Awards
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
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
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Foreign awards
NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Other accoutrements
US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Basic Parachutist Badge
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Headquarters Air Force Badge

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions
Insignia Rank Date
GeneralAugust 17, 2015
Lieutenant GeneralAugust 3, 2011
Major GeneralJuly 3, 2010
Brigadier GeneralOctober 1, 2007
ColonelApril 1, 2001
Lieutenant ColonelJanuary 1, 1998
MajorNovember 1, 1994
CaptainJune 1, 1987
First LieutenantJune 1, 1985
Second LieutenantJune 1, 1983

Education

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References

Military offices
Preceded by
Larry O. Spencer
Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
17 August 2015 – 1 July 2016
Succeeded by
Stephen W. Wilson
Preceded by
Mark Welsh
Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
1 July 2016 – present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded by
Robert Neller
as Commandant of the Marine Corps
Order of Precedence of the United States
as Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Succeeded by
Paul F. Zukunft
as Commandant of the Coast Guard
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