David L. Goldfein

David L. Goldfein
Nickname(s)	Dave
Born	1959 (age 58–59)
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1983–present (35 years)
Rank	General
Commands held	Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Director of the Joint Staff United States Air Forces Central Command 49th Fighter Wing 52nd Fighter Wing 366th Operations Group 555th Fighter Squadron
Battles/wars	Gulf War Operation Allied Force
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Meritorious Service Medal (3) Air Medal (7)
Relations	Major General Stephen M. Goldfein (brother)

David Lee Goldfein (born 1959) is a four-star general in the United States Air Force who currently serves as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Before, he served as Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force and 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]

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

Goldfein received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1983. He 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.^[1] He has commanded U.S. Air Forces Central, Shaw AFB, SC and Al Udeid AB, Qatar; 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, NM; 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany; 366th Operations Group, Mountain Home AFB, ID; and the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy. Goldfein is also a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis AFB, NV.

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 555th Fighter Squadron, also known as the Triple Nickel, he led his squadron flying an F-16 fighter in Operation Allied Force. During that operation, on 2 May 1999, Goldfein's F-16 was shot down^[3] 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. Goldfein successfully ejected, and was subsequently rescued by NATO helicopters.

Assignments

1. October 1983 – October 1984, student, undergraduate pilot training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. October 1984 – February 1988, T-38 instructor pilot, 90th Flying Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. February 1988 – January 1992, F-16 instructor pilot and flight commander, 17th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
4. January 1992 – June 1992, student, USAF Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
5. June 1992 – July 1994, squadron weapons officer and Chief, Wing Weapons and Tactics, 366th Composite Wing, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
6. July 1994 – June 1995, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. June 1995 – May 1996, special assistant to the Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and 16th Air Force, Naples, Italy
8. May 1996 – August 1997, executive officer to the Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
9. August 1997 – June 1998, operations officer, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
10. June 1998 – July 2000, Commander, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
11. July 2000 – June 2001, student, National Defense Fellow, State Department Senior Seminar, Arlington, Va.
12. July 2001 – July 2002, Deputy Division Chief, Combat Forces, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
13. August 2002 – July 2004, Commander, 366th Operations Group, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
14. July 2004 – June 2006, Commander, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
15. June 2006 – January 2008, Commander, 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.
16. January 2008 – August 2009, Deputy Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C.
17. August 2009 – August 2011, Director of Operations, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
18. August 2011 – July 2013, Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Southwest Asia
19. August 2013 – August 2015, Director, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
20. August 2015 – July 2016, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
21. July 2016 – present, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

Summary of joint assignments

1. June 1995 – May 1996, special assistant to the Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and 16th Air Force, Naples, Italy, as a major
2. May 1996 – August 1997, executive officer to the Commander, Allied Air Forces Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as a major
3. August 2013 – August 2015, Director, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant general

Awards and decorations

Personal decorations Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor device and oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters Air Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster Joint Service Commendation Medal Air Force Commendation Medal with 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 National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one service star 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
	General	August 17, 2015
	Lieutenant General	August 3, 2011
	Major General	July 3, 2010
	Brigadier General	October 1, 2007
	Colonel	April 1, 2001
	Lieutenant Colonel	January 1, 1998
	Major	November 1, 1994
	Captain	June 1, 1987
	First Lieutenant	June 1, 1985
	Second Lieutenant	June 1, 1983

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References