Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy

The superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy is the senior officer and commander of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The position is normally held by an active duty Air Force lieutenant general, and is roughly equivalent to the president of a university. Because the Academy is a Direct Reporting Unit, the superintendent reports directly to the Air Force Chief of Staff. The superintendent oversees all aspects of the Academy, including military training, academics, athletics, admissions and the base infrastructure.

Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy
since 2 August 2024
United States Air Force
Reports toChief of Staff of the Air Force
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
First holderHubert R. Harmon
DeputyVice Commander

The position of superintendent is established by statute, under 10 U.S.C. § 9333[1] and 10 U.S.C. § 9333a.[2] Under those sections of law, the superintendent is appointed by the president of the United States, must serve as superintendent at least three years, and must retire at the end of his tour as superintendent, unless the retirement is waived by the Secretary of Defense under 10 U.S.C. § 9321.[3] The practice of mandatory retirement has changed over time, however, as many early superintendents went on to higher positions in the Air Force after their terms at the Academy.

Although it is not an official requirement for the position, nearly all superintendents have received their commissions from the academy (or from the USMA, if they graduated prior to the establishment of the USAFA).

List of superintendents of the United States Air Force Academy

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No. Superintendent Term Class Year Notes and
Reference
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1no wrapLieutenant General
Hubert R. Harmon
(1892–1957)
27 July 195428 July 19562 years, 1 day 
USMA 1915
[a][4]
2Briggs, James E.Major General
James E. Briggs
(1906–1979)
28 July 195617 August 19595 years, 20 days 
USMA 1928
[b][5]
3Stone, William S.Major General
William S. Stone
(1910–1968)
17 August 19599 July 19622 years, 326 days 
USMA 1934
[c][6]
4Warren, Robert H.Major General
Robert H. Warren
(1917–2010)
9 July 19621 July 19653 years, 54 days 
USMA 1940
[d][7]
5Moorman, Thomas S.Lieutenant General
Thomas S. Moorman
(1910–1997)
1 July 19651 August 19704 years, 334 days 
USMA 1933
[e][8]
6Clark, Albert P.Lieutenant General
Albert P. Clark
(1913–2010)
1 August 19701 August 19744 years, 0 days 
USMA 1936
[f][9]
7Allen, James R.Lieutenant General
James R. Allen
(1925–1992)
1 August 197428 June 19772 years, 331 days 
USMA 1948
[g][10]
8Tallman, Kenneth L.Lieutenant General
Kenneth L. Tallman
(1925–2006)
28 June 197716 June 19813 years, 353 days 
USMA 1946
[h][11]
9Kelley, Robert E.Major General
Robert E. Kelley
(1933–2021)
16 June 198116 June 19832 years, 0 days 
GWU AFROTC 1956
[i][12]
10Scott, Winfield W. Jr.Lieutenant General
Winfield W. Scott Jr.
(1927–2022)
16 June 198326 June 19874 years, 10 days 
USMA 1950
[j][13]
11Hamm, Charles R.Lieutenant General
Charles R. Hamm
(born 1933)
26 June 198725 June 19913 years, 364 days 
USMA 1956
[k][14]
12Hosmer, Bradley C.Lieutenant General
Bradley C. Hosmer
(born 1937)
25 June 19918 July 19943 years, 13 days 
USAFA 1959
[l][15]
13Stein, Paul E.Lieutenant General
Paul E. Stein
(1944–2002)
8 July 19941 August 19973 years, 24 days 
USAFA 1966
[m][16]
14Oelstrom, Tad J.Lieutenant General
Tad J. Oelstrom
(born 1943)
1 August 19979 June 20002 years, 313 days 
USAFA 1965
[n][17]
15Dallager, John R.Lieutenant General
John R. Dallager
(born 1947)
9 June 200010 April 20032 years, 305 days 
USAFA 1965
[o][18]
-Weida, John A.Brigadier General
John A. Weida
Acting
10 April 20039 July 200390 days 
USAFA 1978
-
16Rosa, John W. Jr.Lieutenant General
John W. Rosa Jr.
(born 1951)
9 July 200324 October 20052 years, 107 days 
Citadel AFROTC 1973
[p][19]
17Regni, John F.Lieutenant General
John F. Regni
(born 1952)
24 October 20059 June 20093 years, 228 days 
USAFA 1973
[q][20]
18Gould, Michael C.Lieutenant General
Michael C. Gould
(born 1953)
9 June 200912 August 20134 years, 64 days 
USAFA 1976
[r][21][22]
19Johnson, Michelle D.Lieutenant General
Michelle D. Johnson
12 August 201311 August 20173 years, 364 days 
USAFA 1981
[s][23][24]
20Silveria, Jay B.Lieutenant General
Jay B. Silveria
11 August 201723 September 20203 years, 43 days 
USAFA 1985
[t][25]
21Clark, Richard M.Lieutenant General
Richard M. Clark
(born 1964)
23 September 20201 June 20243 years, 252 days 
USAFA 1986
[26]
-Sherman, Thomas P.Major General
Thomas P. Sherman
Acting
1 June 20242 August 202462 days 
USAFA 1995
[27]
22Bauernfeind, Tony D.Lieutenant General
Tony D. Bauernfeind
(born 1969)
2 August 2024Incumbent102 days 
USAFA 1991
[28]

List of vice superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy

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Notes

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  1. ^ Lieutenant general; pursuit/fighter and bomber pilot; World War II veteran; commander of allied air units in the Solomon Islands campaign (March–June 1944); first academy superintendent, served while the Academy was temporarily based at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado; main administration building at the Academy, Harmon Hall, is named in his honor
  2. ^ Lieutenant general; pursuit/fighter pilot; World War II veteran; oversaw the Academy's move to its permanent location in Colorado Springs; later commanded Air Training Command (1959-1963)
  3. ^ General; bomber pilot; World War II veteran; associate professor of social sciences at West Point (1946-1950); later air deputy to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1966-1968)
  4. ^ Lieutenant general; bomber pilot; World War II and Korean War veteran; later served as deputy assistant secretary of defense (international security affairs) for military assistance and sales (1969-1971)
  5. ^ Lieutenant general; observation and reconnaissance pilot; World War II veteran; 16 years of weather operations culminating as Air Weather Service commander; vice commander in chief of Pacific Air Forces (1961-1965)
  6. ^ Lieutenant general; fighter pilot, World War II veteran; prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III (1942-1945); commander of Air University (1968-1970)
  7. ^ General; Korean War and Vietnam War veteran; key planner in the Son Tay Raid; later chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (1977-1979), deputy commander United States European Command (1979-1981), and commander of Military Airlift Command (1981-1983)
  8. ^ Lieutenant general; fighter pilot; Vietnam War veteran; later served as President of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (1986-1991)Lieutenant general; fighter pilot; Vietnam War veteran; later served as President of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (1986-1991)
  9. ^ Lieutenant general; fighter pilot; Vietnam War veteran; later Vice Commander of Tactical Air Command)
  10. ^ Lieutenant general; fighter pilot; Korean War and Vietnam War veteran; also served as commander, Alaskan Air Command (1978-1981), and deputy commander, United States Forces Korea (1981-1983); completed the Academy's freefall parachute training while superintendent—the oldest and highest-ranking person to earn jump wings through that program
  11. ^ Lieutenant general; fighter pilot; Vietnam War veteran; Pilot with the Thunderbirds (1964-1966)
  12. ^ Lieutenant general; fighter pilot; first graduate in the order of merit in the first class at the Academy; Academy's first Rhodes Scholar; first Academy graduate to return as superintendent; president of National Defense University (1986-1989)
  13. ^ Lieutenant general; former assistant coach for Air Force Falcons football; held a variety of staff positions; former commander of the Keesler Technical Training Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi (1991-1992)
  14. ^ Lieutenant general; fighter pilot; Vietnam War and Gulf War veteran; Director of the National Security Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (2001-present)
  15. ^ Lieutenant general; fighter pilot; Vietnam War veteran; resigned as superintendent in the wake of the 2003 sexual assault scandal; demoted to major general upon his retirement
  16. ^ Lieutenant general; fighter pilot; later served as president of The Citadel, (2005-present)
  17. ^ Lieutenant general; personnel officer; commander of Air University (2004-2005)
  18. ^ Lieutenant general; transport and tanker pilot; commander of Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center (2000-2002); director of mobility forces for Operation Joint Endeavor and as U.S. European Command's Air Expeditionary Task Force commander for the deployment of African Union troops into the Darfur region of Sudan
  19. ^ Lieutenant general; first female superintendent of a United States service academy, following Rear Admiral Sandra L. Stosz of the United States Coast Guard Academy; transport and tanker pilot; director of strategy, policy, programs and logistics, U.S. Transportation Command (2009-2011); deputy chief of staff, operations and intelligence, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (2011-2013); Rhodes Scholar, Class of 1983; has also served as a USAFA assistant professor of political science, USAF aide to the president, and commander of the 97th Operations Group at Altus AFB, Oklahoma.
  20. ^ Lieutenant General; fighter pilot; Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command; Commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center; Vice Commander, 14th Air Force; aide-de-camp to Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "10 U.S.C. § 9333".
  2. ^ "10 U.S.C. § 9333a".
  3. ^ "10 USC 9321: Mandatory retirement: Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy; waiver authority". uscode.house.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  4. ^ "Lieutenant General Hubert R. Harmon". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  5. ^ "Lieutenant General James Elbert Briggs". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  6. ^ "General William Sebastian Stone". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  7. ^ "Lieutenant General Robert H. Warren". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  8. ^ "Lieutenant General Thomas Samuel Moorman". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  9. ^ "Lieutenant General Albert P. Clark". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  10. ^ "Lieutenant General James R. Allen". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  11. ^ "Lieutenant General K.L. Tallman". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  12. ^ "Lieutenant General Robert E. Kelley". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  13. ^ "Lieutenant General Winfield W. Scott Jr". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  14. ^ "Lieutenant General Charles R. Hamm". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  15. ^ "Lieutenant General Bradley C. Hosmer". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  16. ^ "Lieutenant General Paul E. Stein". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  17. ^ "Lieutenant General Tad J. Oelstrom". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  18. ^ "Lieutenant General John R. Dallager". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  19. ^ "Lieutenant General John W. Rosa". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  20. ^ "Lieutenant General John F. Regni". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  21. ^ "Obama Names New AF Academy Superintendent". Air Force Times. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  22. ^ "Michael C. Gould". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  23. ^ "Woman Nominated to Lead Air Force Academy". Air Force Times. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  24. ^ "Lieutenant General Michelle D. Johnson". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2013-09-04. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  25. ^ "Lieutenant General Jay B. Silveria".
  26. ^ "Senate confirms next Academy Superintendent". 10 August 2020.
  27. ^ a b Hadley, Greg (2024-05-31). "Air Force Elevates USAFA Vice Superintendent to General Officer Role". Air & Space Force Magazine. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  28. ^ Brunet, Alexander (2024-07-31). "New superintendent set to take command of United States Air Force Academy". KRDO. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  29. ^ "Brigadier General Douglas K. Lamberth".
  30. ^ "Major General David A. Harris".
  31. ^ "Brigadier General Houston R. Cantwell".
  32. ^ "BENJAMIN R. JONSSON". www.usafa.af.mil.