Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy

Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy
Incumbent Lieutenant General Tony D. Bauernfeind since 2 August 2024
United States Air Force
Reports to	Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
First holder	Hubert R. Harmon
Deputy	Vice Commander

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.

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

No.	Superintendent		Term			Class Year	Notes and Reference
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
1		no wrapLieutenant General Hubert R. Harmon (1892–1957)	27 July 1954	28 July 1956	2 years, 1 day	USMA 1915	[a][4]
2		Briggs, James E.Major General James E. Briggs (1906–1979)	28 July 1956	17 August 1959	5 years, 20 days	USMA 1928	[b][5]
3		Stone, William S.Major General William S. Stone (1910–1968)	17 August 1959	9 July 1962	2 years, 326 days	USMA 1934	[c][6]
4		Warren, Robert H.Major General Robert H. Warren (1917–2010)	9 July 1962	1 July 1965	3 years, 54 days	USMA 1940	[d][7]
5		Moorman, Thomas S.Lieutenant General Thomas S. Moorman (1910–1997)	1 July 1965	1 August 1970	4 years, 334 days	USMA 1933	[e][8]
6		Clark, Albert P.Lieutenant General Albert P. Clark (1913–2010)	1 August 1970	1 August 1974	4 years, 0 days	USMA 1936	[f][9]
7		Allen, James R.Lieutenant General James R. Allen (1925–1992)	1 August 1974	28 June 1977	2 years, 331 days	USMA 1948	[g][10]
8		Tallman, Kenneth L.Lieutenant General Kenneth L. Tallman (1925–2006)	28 June 1977	16 June 1981	3 years, 353 days	USMA 1946	[h][11]
9		Kelley, Robert E.Major General Robert E. Kelley (1933–2021)	16 June 1981	16 June 1983	2 years, 0 days	GWU AFROTC 1956	[i][12]
10		Scott, Winfield W. Jr.Lieutenant General Winfield W. Scott Jr. (1927–2022)	16 June 1983	26 June 1987	4 years, 10 days	USMA 1950	[j][13]
11		Hamm, Charles R.Lieutenant General Charles R. Hamm (born 1933)	26 June 1987	25 June 1991	3 years, 364 days	USMA 1956	[k][14]
12		Hosmer, Bradley C.Lieutenant General Bradley C. Hosmer (born 1937)	25 June 1991	8 July 1994	3 years, 13 days	USAFA 1959	[l][15]
13		Stein, Paul E.Lieutenant General Paul E. Stein (1944–2002)	8 July 1994	1 August 1997	3 years, 24 days	USAFA 1966	[m][16]
14		Oelstrom, Tad J.Lieutenant General Tad J. Oelstrom (born 1943)	1 August 1997	9 June 2000	2 years, 313 days	USAFA 1965	[n][17]
15		Dallager, John R.Lieutenant General John R. Dallager (born 1947)	9 June 2000	10 April 2003	2 years, 305 days	USAFA 1965	[o][18]
-		Weida, John A.Brigadier General John A. Weida Acting	10 April 2003	9 July 2003	90 days	USAFA 1978	-
16		Rosa, John W. Jr.Lieutenant General John W. Rosa Jr. (born 1951)	9 July 2003	24 October 2005	2 years, 107 days	Citadel AFROTC 1973	[p][19]
17		Regni, John F.Lieutenant General John F. Regni (born 1952)	24 October 2005	9 June 2009	3 years, 228 days	USAFA 1973	[q][20]
18		Gould, Michael C.Lieutenant General Michael C. Gould (born 1953)	9 June 2009	12 August 2013	4 years, 64 days	USAFA 1976	[r][21][22]
19		Johnson, Michelle D.Lieutenant General Michelle D. Johnson	12 August 2013	11 August 2017	3 years, 364 days	USAFA 1981	[s][23][24]
20		Silveria, Jay B.Lieutenant General Jay B. Silveria	11 August 2017	23 September 2020	3 years, 43 days	USAFA 1985	[t][25]
21		Clark, Richard M.Lieutenant General Richard M. Clark (born 1964)	23 September 2020	1 June 2024	3 years, 252 days	USAFA 1986	[26]
-		Sherman, Thomas P.Major General Thomas P. Sherman Acting	1 June 2024	2 August 2024	62 days	USAFA 1995	[27]
22		Bauernfeind, Tony D.Lieutenant General Tony D. Bauernfeind (born 1969)	2 August 2024	Incumbent	145 days	USAFA 1991	[28]

List of vice superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy

• Col Douglas K. Lamberth, July 2014 – December 2016^[29]
• Col David A. Harris Jr., July 2016^[30]
• Col Houston R. Cantwell, July 2018^[31]
• Col Otis C. Jones, July 2020
• Col Benjamin R. Jonsson, August 2022^[32]
• Maj Gen Thomas P. Sherman, May 2024^[27]

Notes

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

• Superintendent of the United States Military Academy
• Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy

References

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. 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.