The vice chief of staff of the Air Force (VCSAF) is the second-highest-ranking military officer in the United States Air Force. If the chief of staff of the Air Force (CSAF) is absent or is unable to perform his duties, then the VCSAF assumes the duties and responsibilities of the CSAF. The VCSAF may also perform other duties that the secretary of defense (SECDEF), the secretary of the Air Force (SECAF) or the CSAF assigns to him. The VCSAF is appointed by the president of the United States and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate.[1] By statute, the VCSAF is appointed as a four-star general.

Quick Facts Abbreviation, Reports to ...
Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Thumb
Headquarters Air Force Identification Badge
Thumb
Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force flag
Thumb
since 19 December 2023
United States Air Force
Air Staff
AbbreviationVCSAF
Reports toSecretary of the Air Force
Chief of Staff of the Air Force
SeatThe Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, United States
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term length4 years fixed term
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 8034
Formation1 October 1947
First holderHoyt Vandenberg
Close

General James C. Slife has served as the vice chief of staff of the Air Force since 19 December 2023.[2]

List of Vice Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force

More information No., Term ...
No. Vice Chief of Staff[3][4] Term Chief of Staff
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Hoyt S. Vandenberg
Vandenberg, HoytGeneral
Hoyt S. Vandenberg
(1899–1954)
10 October 194728 April 1948
(became CSAF)
201 daysCarl Spaatz
2
Muir S. Fairchild
Fairchild, MuirGeneral
Muir S. Fairchild
(1894–1950)
27 May 194817 March 1950 1 year, 294 daysHoyt Vandenberg
-
Lauris Norstad
Norstad, LaurisGeneral
Lauris Norstad
(1907–1988)
Acting
2 May 19509 October 1950160 daysHoyt Vandenberg
3
Nathan F. Twining
Twining, NathanGeneral
Nathan F. Twining
(1897–1982)
10 October 195029 June 1953
(became CSAF)
2 years, 262 daysHoyt Vandenberg
4
Thomas D. White
White, ThomasGeneral
Thomas D. White
(1901–1965)
30 June 195330 June 1957
(became CSAF)
4 years, 0 daysNathan F. Twining
5
Curtis E. LeMay
LeMay, CurtisGeneral
Curtis E. LeMay
(1906–1990)
1 July 195730 June 1961
(became CSAF)
3 years, 364 daysThomas D. White
6
Frederic H. Smith Jr.
Smith, FredericGeneral
Frederic H. Smith Jr.
(1908–1980)
1 July 196130 June 1962
(retired)
364 daysCurtis LeMay
7
William F. McKee
McKee, WilliamGeneral
William F. McKee
(1906–1987)
1 July 196231 July 1964
(retired)
2 years, 30 daysCurtis LeMay
8
John P. McConnell
McConnell, JohnGeneral
John P. McConnell
(1908–1986)
1 August 196431 January 1965
(became CSAF)
183 daysCurtis LeMay
9
William H. Blanchard
Blanchard, WilliamGeneral
William H. Blanchard
(1916–1966)
19 February 196531 May 1966 1 year, 101 daysJohn P. McConnell
-
Hewitt T. Wheless
Wheless, HewittLieutenant General
Hewitt T. Wheless
(1913–1986)
Acting
13 June 196631 July 196648 daysJohn P. McConnell
10
Bruce K. Holloway
Holloway, BruceGeneral
Bruce K. Holloway
(1912–1999)
1 August 196631 July 1968
(reassigned)
1 year, 365 daysJohn P. McConnell
11
John D. Ryan
Ryan, JohnGeneral
John D. Ryan
(1915–1983)
1 August 196831 July 1969
(became CSAF)
364 daysJohn P. McConnell
12
John C. Meyer
Meyer, JohnGeneral
John C. Meyer
(1919–1975)
1 August 196930 April 1972
(reassigned)
2 years, 273 daysJohn D. Ryan
13
Horace M. Wade
Wade, HoraceGeneral
Horace M. Wade
(1916–2001)
1 May 197231 October 1973
(reassigned)
1 year, 183 daysJohn D. Ryan
George S. Brown
14
Richard H. Ellis
Ellis, RichardGeneral
Richard H. Ellis
(1919–1989)
1 November 197318 August 1975
(reassigned)
1 year, 290 daysGeorge S. Brown
David C. Jones
15
William V. McBride
McBride, WilliamGeneral
William V. McBride
(1922–2022)
19 August 197531 March 1978
(retired)
2 years, 224 daysDavid C. Jones
16
Lew Allen Jr.
Allen, LewGeneral
Lew Allen Jr.
(1925–2010)
1 April 197830 June 1978
(became CSAF)
90 daysDavid C. Jones
17
James A. Hill
Hill, JamesGeneral
James A. Hill
(1923–2010)
1 July 197829 February 1980
(retired)
1 year, 243 daysLew Allen
18
Robert C. Mathis
Mathis, RobertGeneral
Robert C. Mathis
(1927–2016)
1 March 198031 May 1982
(retired)
2 years, 91 daysLew Allen
19
Jerome F. O'Malley
O'Malley, JeromeGeneral
Jerome F. O'Malley
(1932–1985)
1 June 19825 October 1983
(reassigned)
1 year, 126 daysLew Allen
Charles A. Gabriel
20
Lawrence A. Skantze
Skantze, LawrenceGeneral
Lawrence A. Skantze
(1928–2018)
6 October 198331 July 1984
(reassigned)
299 daysCharles A. Gabriel
21
Larry D. Welch
Welch, LarryGeneral
Larry D. Welch
(born 1934)
1 August 198431 July 1985
(reassigned)
364 daysCharles A. Gabriel
22
John L. Piotrowski
Piotrowski, JohnGeneral
John L. Piotrowski
(born 1934)
1 August 198531 January 1987
(reassigned)
1 year, 183 daysCharles A. Gabriel
Larry D. Welch
23
Monroe W. Hatch Jr.
Hatch, MonroeGeneral
Monroe W. Hatch Jr.
(born 1933)
1 February 19871 June 1990
(retired)
3 years, 120 daysLarry D. Welch
24
John M. Loh
Loh, JohnGeneral
John M. Loh
(born 1938)
4 June 19901 April 1991
(reassigned)
301 daysLarry D. Welch
Michael Dugan
Merrill McPeak
25
Michael P. C. Carns
Carns, MichaelGeneral
Michael P. C. Carns
(1937–2023)
16 May 199128 July 1994
(retired)
3 years, 73 daysMerrill McPeak
26
Thomas S. Moorman Jr.
Moorman, ThomasGeneral
Thomas S. Moorman Jr.
(1940–2020)
29 July 199411 July 1997
(retired)
2 years, 347 daysMerrill McPeak
Ronald Fogleman
27
Ralph E. Eberhart
Eberhart, RalphGeneral
Ralph E. Eberhart
(born 1946)
11 July 199726 May 1999
(reassigned)
1 year, 319 daysRonald Fogleman
Michael E. Ryan
28
Lester L. Lyles
Lyles, LesterGeneral
Lester L. Lyles
(born 1946)
27 May 199917 April 2000
(reassigned)
326 daysMichael E. Ryan
29
John W. Handy
Handy, JohnGeneral
John W. Handy
(born 1944)
17 April 20005 November 2001
(reassigned)
1 year, 202 daysMichael E. Ryan
John P. Jumper
30
Robert H. Foglesong
Foglesong, RobertGeneral
Robert H. Foglesong
(born 1945)
5 November 200111 August 2003
(reassigned)
1 year, 279 daysJohn P. Jumper
31
T. Michael Moseley
Moseley, Teed MichaelGeneral
T. Michael Moseley
(born 1949)
12 August 20032 September 2005
(became CSAF)
2 years, 21 daysJohn P. Jumper
32
John D. W. Corley
Corley, JohnGeneral
John D. W. Corley
(born 1951)
2 September 200517 September 2007
(reassigned)
2 years, 15 daysT. Michael Moseley
33
Duncan J. McNabb
McNabb, DuncanGeneral
Duncan J. McNabb
(born 1952)
17 September 20074 September 2008
(reassigned)
353 daysT. Michael Moseley
Norton A. Schwartz
34
William M. Fraser III
Fraser, WilliamGeneral
William M. Fraser III
(born 1952)
8 October 200827 August 2009
(reassigned)
322 daysNorton A. Schwartz
35
Carrol H. Chandler
Chandler, CarrolGeneral
Carrol H. Chandler
(born 1952)
27 August 200914 January 2011
(retired)
1 year, 140 daysNorton A. Schwartz
36
Philip M. Breedlove
Breedlove, PhilipGeneral
Philip M. Breedlove
(born 1955)
14 January 201127 July 2012
(reassigned)
1 year, 195 daysNorton A. Schwartz
37
Larry O. Spencer
Spencer, LarryGeneral
Larry O. Spencer
(born 1954)
27 July 20126 August 2015
(retired)
3 years, 10 daysNorton A. Schwartz
Mark Welsh
38
David L. Goldfein
Goldfein, DavidGeneral
David L. Goldfein
(born 1959)
6 August 20151 July 2016
(became CSAF)
330 daysMark Welsh
39
Stephen W. Wilson
Wilson, StephenGeneral
Stephen W. Wilson
(born 1959/1960)
22 July 201616 November 2020
(retired)
4 years, 117 daysDavid L. Goldfein
Charles Q. Brown Jr.
40
David W. Allvin
Allvin, DavidGeneral
David W. Allvin
(born 1963)
16 November 20202 November 2023
(became CSAF)
2 years, 351 daysCharles Q. Brown Jr.
41
James C. Slife
Slife, JamesGeneral
James C. Slife
(born 1967)
19 December 2023Incumbent338 daysDavid W. Allvin
Close

Timeline

James C. SlifeDavid W. AllvinStephen W. WilsonDavid L. GoldfeinLarry O. SpencerPhilip M. BreedloveCarrol ChandlerWilliam M. Fraser IIIDuncan McNabbJohn D. W. CorleyT. Michael MoseleyRobert H. FoglesongJohn W. HandyLester LylesRalph EberhartThomas S. Moorman Jr.Michael P. C. CarnsJohn F. LohMonroe W. Hatch Jr.John L. PiotrowskiLarry D. WelchLawrence A. SkantzeJerome F. O'MalleyRobert C. MathisJames A. HillLew AllenWilliam V. McBrideRichard H. EllisHorace M. WadeJohn C. MeyerJohn Dale RyanBruce K. HollowayWilliam H. BlanchardJohn P. McConnell (general)William F. McKeeFrederic H. Smith Jr.Curtis LeMayThomas D. WhiteNathan F. TwiningMuir S. FairchildHoyt Vandenberg

See also

References

Wikiwand in your browser!

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.

Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.