General David L. Goldfein

General David L. Goldfein
Name	David L. Goldfein
Birth date	1959-09-18
Birth place	New York City, New York
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Serviceyears	1983–2020
Rank	General
Battles	Gulf War; Operation Allied Force; Operation Enduring Freedom; Operation Iraqi Freedom

Contents

General David L. Goldfein

David L. Goldfein is a retired United States Air Force four-star General who served as the 21st Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and as the Senior Military Advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force. He served across the post‑Cold War and post‑9/11 eras, contributing to planning and operations related to NATO, United States Central Command, United States European Command, and joint campaigns alongside Department of Defense leadership. His career included operational assignments with tactical fighter units, staff roles in the Pentagon, and coalition coordination with partners such as United Kingdom, France, Germany, and NATO Allied Command Transformation.

Early life and education

Goldfein was born in New York City and raised in a family with ties to New York State. He attended the United States Air Force Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science in International Affairs and participating in cadet activities influenced by leaders from Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Academy Athletic Program, and United States Air Force Academy Honor Code traditions. He later completed graduate studies at the Naval Postgraduate School and attended professional military education at the Air Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and the National War College, where curricula included instruction from figures associated with Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, and senior faculty drawn from Harvard Kennedy School and Georgetown University affiliates.

Goldfein commissioned as a second lieutenant following graduation from the United States Air Force Academy and completed undergraduate pilot training at Vance Air Force Base before training in the F-16 Fighting Falcon community at Luke Air Force Base. His early operational assignments included squadrons at Ramstein Air Base, Aviano Air Base, and stateside locations with affiliations to Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, and United States Air Forces in Europe. Goldfein logged combat sorties during the Gulf War and held positions on the staffs of United States Central Command, European Command, and the Joint Staff, where he worked with principals from Combatant Commands, Defense Logistics Agency, and coalition partners such as Turkey, Italy, and Spain. He commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels, including a command tour with Alaska Air Command-aligned units and a wing with ties to Aerospace Integration initiatives alongside Air Mobility Command planners.

As Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, Goldfein served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and advised the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Air Force, and the President of the United States on airpower, readiness, and modernization. He championed initiatives related to F-35 Lightning II integration, advanced cybersecurity partnerships with United States Cyber Command, and modernization programs involving Air Force Research Laboratory, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and industry partners like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. His tenure emphasized readiness for contested logistics scenarios and joint operations with United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Army components, while engaging allies through forums like NATO Summit meetings and bilateral dialogues with Japan, Australia, and South Korea.

Goldfein participated in and directed planning for operations across multiple theaters, including sorties in the Gulf War, enforcement missions over the Balkans during Operation Allied Force, air operations supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and campaigns during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He worked on expeditionary basing and coalition force integration with partner commands at Al Udeid Air Base, Incirlik Air Base, Aviano Air Base, and Ramstein Air Base, coordinating with organizations such as United States European Command, Combined Air Operations Center, and NATO headquarters in Brussels. His operational roles involved close interaction with multinational staffs from Canada, Norway, Denmark, Poland, and Belgium during combined air campaigns and multinational training exercises like Red Flag and Northern Edge.

Goldfein received numerous awards during his career, reflecting service in combat and joint assignments; his decorations include high‑level citations associated with awards such as the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and Legion of Merit. Additional recognitions align with campaign medals from Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and unit awards connected to Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and Meritorious Service Medal citations. He also earned professional honors from institutions like the Air Force Association and academic commendations from United States Air Force Academy alumni organizations.

After retiring from active duty, Goldfein transitioned to roles in defense consulting and advisory positions with organizations such as Center for a New American Security, American Enterprise Institute, and defense industry boards alongside firms like BAE Systems and Raytheon Technologies. He has participated in panels hosted by Brookings Institution, Council on Foreign Relations, and Atlantic Council addressing airpower, peer competition, and resilience of allied air forces. Goldfein has lectured at institutions including National Defense University, Georgetown University, and Stanford University and contributed to discussions with media organizations such as NPR, PBS, CNN, and The New York Times on strategic airpower and national security challenges.

Category:United States Air Force generals Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal Category:United States Air Force Academy alumni