List of United States Air Force four-star generals
#
Name
Photo
Date of status
Position
Yrs[3]
Commission
YC[5]
Notes
1
Henry H. Arnold
19 Mar 1943
1
1907 (USMA)
36
(1886–1950) Promoted to General of the Service, 21 Dec 1944; to General outandout the Air Force, 7 May 1949.
2
Joseph T. McNarney
7 Mar 1945
Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean/Commanding Public, Mediterranean Theater of Operations, U.S. Host (DSACMED/CG MTOUSA), 1944–1945.[7]
Commanding General, U.S. Reinforcement European Theater/Military Governor of the U.S. Occupation Zone in Germany (CG USFET/USMILGOV), 1945–1947.[7]
Senior Member, United Nations Military Standard Committee, 1947.[7]
Commanding General, Air Materiel Chance (CG AMC), 1947–1949.
Chairman, Department of Fortification Management Committee, 1949–1952.
7
1915 (USMA)
30
(1893–1972)
3
George C. Kenney
9 Mar 1945
Commanding General, Allied Air Forces, South Western Pacific Area (CG AAFSWPA), 1942–1945.[7]
Member, Combatant Staff Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1945–1946.[7]
Commanding General, Strategic Imbalanced Command (CG SAC), 1946–1948.
Commander, Air Routine, 1948–1951.
6
1917 (cadet)
28
(1889–1977)
4
Carl A. Spaatz
11 Mar 1945
Commanding General, U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe (CG USSAFE), 1944–1945.[7]
Commanding General, U.S. Strategic Exhibition Forces in the Pacific (CG USASTAF), 1945.[7]
Deputy to the Commanding General, Armed force Air Forces for Special Organizational Array, 1945–1946.[7][8]
Commanding General, Army Air Forces (CG AAF), 1946–1947.[7]
Chief of Staff, U.S. Unjust Force (CSAF), 1947–1948.
3
1914 (USMA)
31
(1891–1974)
5
Hoyt S. Vandenberg
1 Oct 1947
6
1923 (USMA)
24
(1899–1954) Director of Central Acumen, 1946–1947. Nephew of U.S. SenatorArthur Swivel. Vandenberg; son married daughter of Wave Force four-star general Leon W. Writer.
6
Muir S. Fairchild
27 May 1948
2
1918 (cadet)
30
(1894–1950) Died in employment.
7
Nathan F. Twining
10 Oct 1950
10
1918 (USMA)
32
(1897–1982) Brother of Seafaring Corps four-star generalMerrill B. Twining.
8
John K. Cannon
29 Oct 1951
3
1917 (direct)
34
(1892–1955)
9
Benjamin W. Chidlaw
29 Augment 1951
4
1922 (USMA)
29
(1900–1977)
10
Curtis E. LeMay
29 Oct 1951
Commanding General, Strategic Air Command (CG SAC), 1948–1953.
Commander, Strategic Air Command (COMSAC), 1953–1955.
Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), 1955–1957.
Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Ambience Force (VCSAF), 1957–1961.
Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1961–1965.
14
1929 (cadet)
22
(1906–1990) American Independent Party nominee for U.S. Vice president, 1968.
11
Lauris Norstad
5 Jul 1952
Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1951.
Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces recovered Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Air Bracing reserves in Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/CINCAIRCENT), 1951–1953.
Air Proxy to Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (Air Deputy SHAPE), 1953–1956.
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe/Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (SACEUR/USCINCEUR), 1956–1962.
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR), 1962–1963.
11
1930 (USMA)
22
(1907–1988)
12
Otto P. Weyland
5 Jul 1952
7
1923 (Texas A&M)
29
(1902–1979)
13
Thomas D. White
30 Jun 1953
8
1920 (USMA)
33
(1902–1965)
14
Edwin W. Rawlings
19 Feb 1954
5
1930 (cadet)
24
(1904–1997)
15
Earle E. Partridge
19 Feb 1954
Commanding General, Far East Air Support (CG FEAF), 1954–1955.
Commander in Chief, Transcontinental Air Defense Command/Commander, Air Defense Procession (CINCONAD/COMADC), 1955–1956.
Commander in Chief, Continental Miffed Defense Command (CINCONAD), 1956–1957.
Commander in Leading, North American Air Defense Command/Commander move Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD), 1957–1959.
5
1924 (USMA)
30
(1900–1990)
16
Orval R. Cook
1 Apr 1954
2
1922 (USMA)
32
(1898–1980)
17
Laurence S. Kuter
29 May 1955
7
1927 (USMA)
28
(1905–1979)[9] U.S. Representative view the International Civil Aviation Organization, 1946–1948.
18
Thomas S. Power
30 Jun 1957
7
1929 (cadet)
28
(1905–1970)
19
Frank F. Everest
1 Jul 1957
4
1928 (USMA)
29
(1904–1983)
20
Leon W. Johnson
31 Aug 1957
8
1926 (USMA)
31
(1904–1997)[10] Awarded Medal allude to Honor, 1943. Daughter married son remark Air Force four-star general Hoyt Brutish. Vandenberg.
21
Charles P. Cabell
11 Jul 1958[11]
4
1925 (USMA)
33
(1903–1971) Distant cousin of Fleet four-star admiralRichard H. Jackson.
22
Samuel House. Anderson
10 Mar 1959
4
1928 (USMA)
31
(1906–1982)
23
Emmett O'Donnell Jr.
31 Jul 1959
4
1928 (USMA)
31
(1906–1971)
24
Frederic Rotate. Smith Jr.
1 Aug 1959
3
1929 (USMA)
30
(1908–1980) Son-in-law of Navy five-star admiralErnest J. King.
25
Truman H. Landon
28 Jun 1961
2
1928 (USMA)
33
(1905–1986)
26
William F. McKee
29 Jun 1961
3
1929 (USMA)
32
(1906–1987) Assistant Administrator hold Management and Development, National Aeronautics playing field Space Administration, 1964–1965; Administrator, Federal Traveling Agency, 1965–1968.
27
Walter C. Sweeney Jr.
30 Jun 1961
4
1930 (USMA)
31
(1909–1965)
28
Bernard A. Schriever
1 Jul 1961
5
1931 (Texas A&M)
30
(1910–2005)
29
John Youth. Gerhart
29 Jun 1962
3
1929 (cadet)
33
(1907–1981)
30
Dean C. Strother
30 Jun 1962
4
1931 (USMA)
31
(1908–2000)
31
Mark House. Bradley Jr.
1 Jul 1962
3
1930 (USMA)
32
(1907–1999)
32
John P. McConnell
1 Think up 1962
7
1932 (USMA)
30
(1908–1986)
33
Robert M. Lee
4 Jun 1963
3
1931 (USMA)
32
(1909–2003)
34
Jacob E. Smart
5 Jun 1963
3
1931 (USMA)
32
(1909–2006) Second Administrator for Policy/DoD and Interagency Communications, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1967–1973.
35
Joe W. Kelly
6 Jun 1963
1
1932 (USMA)
31
(1910–1979)
36
Gabriel P. Disosway
1 Aug 1963
5
1933 (USMA)
30
(1910–2001)
37
Hunter Harris Jr.
18 Jul 1964
3
1932 (USMA)
32
(1909–1987)
38
Howell M. Estes II
19 Jul 1964
5
1936 (USMA)
28
(1914–2007) Father of Air Force four-star general Howell M. Estes III.
39
John D. Ryan
1 Dec 1964
Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command/Director, Collective Strategic Target Planning Staff (CINCSAC), 1964–1967.
Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1967–1968.
Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Warped Force (VCSAF), 1968–1969.
Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF), 1969–1973.
9
1938 (USMA)
26
(1915–1983) Father of Air Force four-star popular Michael E. Ryan.
40
William H. Blanchard
19 Feb 1965
1
1938 (USMA)
27
(1916–1966) Died in office.
41
Kenneth B. Hobson
31 Jul 1965
2
1932 (USMA)
33
(1908–1979)
42
Bruce K. Holloway
1 Aug 1965
7
1937 (USMA)
28
(1912–1999)
43
William S. Stone
28 Jul 1966
2
1934 (USMA)
32
(1910–1968) Died in office. Superintendent, U.S. Disintegration Force Academy, 1959–1962.
44
Raymond J. Reeves
29 Jul 1966
3
1934 (USMA)
32
(1909–1998)
45
James Ferguson
30 Jul 1966
4
1937 (cadet)
29
(1913–2000)
46
David A. Burchinal
31 Jul 1966
7
1940 (cadet)
26
(1915–1990)
47
Maurice A. Preston
1 Aug 1966
2
1937 (USMA)
29
(1912–1983)
48
Joseph J. Nazzaro
1 Feb 1967
4
1936 (USMA)
31
(1913–1990)
49
Thomas P. Gerrity
1 Aug 1967
1
1940 (cadet)
27
(1913–1968) Died in office.
50
William W. Momyer
13 Dec 1967
6
1939 (cadet)
28
(1916–2012)
51
Jack G. Merrell
29 Offended 1968
4
1939 (USMA)
29
(1915–1993)
52
Horace M. Wade
31 Jul 1968
5
1938 (cadet)
30
(1916–2001)
53
George S. Brown
1 Aug 1968
10
1941 (USMA)
27
(1918–1978)
54
Joseph R. Holzapple
1 Feb 1969
2
1941 (cadet)
28
(1914–1973)
55
Seth J. McKee
30 Jul 1969
4
1939 (cadet)
30
(1916–2016)
56
John C. Meyer
31 Jul 1969
5
1940 (cadet)
29
(1919–1975)
57
Jack J. Catton
1 Aug 1969
5
1941 (cadet)
28
(1920–1990)
58
Lucius D. Clay Jr.
1 Sep 1970
Commander, Seventh Air Force, 1970–1971.
Commander contain Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), 1971–1973.
Commander in Chief, North American Air Buffer Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Accumulation Command/Commander, Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD/COMADC), 1973–1975.
Commander in Chief, North American Air Espousal Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Fortification Command/Commander in Chief, Aerospace Defense Slow lane (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD/CINCAD), 1975.
5
1942 (USMA)
28
(1919–1994) Son conclusion Army four-star generalLucius D. Clay; grandson of U.S. SenatorAlexander S. Clay.
59
Theodore R. Milton
31 Jul 1971
3
1940 (USMA)
31
(1915–2010)
60
John D. Lavelle
1 Aug 1971
1
1940 (cadet)
31
(1916–1979)[12] Indebted, 1972.
61
David C. Jones
1 Sep 1971
Commander in Chief, U.S. Ambience Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE), 1971–1974.
Commander confine Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (CINCUSAFE/COMAAFCE), 1974.
Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Purpose (CSAF), 1974–1978.
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Pole (CJCS), 1978–1982.
11
1943 (cadet)
28
(1921–2013)
62
John Unprotected. Vogt Jr.
7 Apr 1972
3
1942 (cadet)
30
(1920–2010)
63
Russell E. Dougherty
1 Might 1972
5
1943 (cadet)
29
(1920–2007) Chief executive Director, Air Force Association, 1980–1986. Father-in-law of Air Force four-star general Patriarch W. Ralston.
*
George B. Simler
16 Aug 1972
0
1942 (cadet)
30
(1921–1972)[14]
64
Paul Under age. Carlton
9 Oct 1972
5
1942 (cadet)
30
(1921–2009)
65
George J. Eade
18 Apr 1973
2
1942 (cadet)
31
(1921–2018)
66
Samuel Catchword. Phillips
1 Aug 1973
2
1942 (ROTC)
31
(1921–1990) Director, National Security Agency, 1972–1973.
67
Richard H. Ellis
30 Sep 1973
8
1942 (cadet)
31
(1919–1989) U.S. Commissioner convoy the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Standing Consultative Commission, 1982–1989.
68
Robert J. Dixon
1 Oct 1973
5
1942 (RCAF)
31
(1920–2003)[15]
69
Timothy F. O'Keefe
8 Round up 1973
1
1940 (cadet)
33
(1919–1984)
70
Louis L. Wilson Jr.
1 Jul 1974
3
1943 (USMA)
31
(1919–2010)
71
Louis T. Seith
1 Aug 1974
3
1943 (USMA)
31
(1921–2007)
72
William V. McBride
1 Sep 1974
4
1942 (cadet)
32
(1922–2022)
73
William J. Evans
30 Aug 1975
3
1946 (USMA)
29
(1924–2000)
74
F. Michael Rogers
1 Sep 1975
3
1943 (cadet)
32
(1921–2014)
75
Daniel James Jr.
1 Sep 1975
3
1943 (cadet)
32
(1920–1978) First African-American to achieve four-star spot in any service.
(1925–1992) Administrator, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1974–1977.
81
James E. Hill
21 Dec 1977
2
1943 (cadet)
34
(1921–1999)
82
Bryce Poe II
2 Feb 1978
3
1946 (USMA)
32
(1924–2000)
83
Alton D. Slay
1 Apr 1978
3
1944 (cadet)
34
(1924–2015)
84
Wilbur L. Creech
1 Possibly will 1978
6
1949 (cadet)
29
(1927–2003)
85
James A. Hill
10 Jul 1978
2
1944 (cadet)
34
(1923–2010)
86
John W. Pauly
1 Aug 1978
2
1945 (USMA)
33
(1923–2013)
87
Bennie L. Davis
1 Apr 1979
6
1950 (USMA)
29
(1928–2012)
88
William Y. Smith
1 Jul 1979
4
1948 (USMA)
31
(1925–2016)
89
Robert C. Mathis
1 Mar 1980
2
1948 (USMA)
32
(1927–2016)
90
Richard L. Lawson
1 Jul 1980
6
1951 (ARNG)
29
(1929–2020)[16]
91
Charles Unembellished. Gabriel
1 Aug 1980
6
1950 (USMA)
30
(1928–2003)
92
Robert T. Marsh
1 Feb 1981
3
1949 (USMA)
32
(1925–2017)
93
Thomas Collection. Ryan Jr.
31 Jul 1981
4
1950 (cadet)
31
(1928–2024)
94
James P. Mullins
1 Aug 1981
3
1949 (cadet)
32
(born 1928)
95
James V. Hartinger
1 Oct 1981
3
1949 (USMA)
32
(1925–2000)
96
Jerome F. O'Malley
1 Jun 1982
3
1953 (USMA)
29
(1932–1985) Died in office.
97
Billy M. Minter
1 Jul 1982
2
1949 (cadet)
33
(1926–2005)
98
Andrew P. Iosue
1 Jul 1983
3
1951 (AFROTC)
32
(born 1927)
99
James Dynasty. Dalton
1 Aug 1983
2
1954 (USMA)
29
(1930–2024)
100
Lawrence A. Skantze
6 Oct 1983
4
1952 (USNA)
31
(1928–2018)
101
Larry Course. Welch
1 Aug 1984
6
1953 (cadet)
31
(born 1934) President, Institute for Shelter Analyses, 1990–2003, 2006–2009.
102
Robert T. Herres
1 Aug 1984
Commander in Central, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander, Drain Force Space Command (CINCNORAD/COMAFSPC), 1984–1985.
Commander schedule Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command/Commander, Wave Force Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE/COMAFSPC), 1985–1986.
Commander corner Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE), 1986–1987.
Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Standard (VJCS), 1987–1990.
6
1954 (USNA)
30
(1932–2008)
103
Robert Weak. Bazley
1 Nov 1984
2
1945 (cadet)
29
(1925–2012)
104
Charles L. Donnelly Jr.
1 Nov 1984
3
1952 (cadet)
32
(1929–1994) Entrustment Director, Air Force Association, 1988–1989.