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| T. Michael Moseley | |
|---|---|
| Name | T. Michael Moseley |
| Birth date | 9 June 1949 |
| Birth place | Havana, Illinois, United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Serviceyears | 1971–2008 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles | Gulf War, War in Afghanistan (2001–present), Iraq War |
T. Michael Moseley was a four-star United States Air Force general who served as the 18th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and the Air Command and Staff College, Moseley commanded at the squadron, wing, numbered air force, and major command levels and held staff positions at Air Combat Command, U.S. Central Command, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. His tenure included roles during the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan (2001–present).
Born in Havana, Illinois, Moseley attended local schools before entering the United States Air Force Academy, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned in 1971. He later earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California and completed professional military education at the Air Command and Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. His professional development included participation in doctrine and strategy seminars at the RAND Corporation and involvement with the National Defense University.
Moseley trained as a fighter pilot flying the F-15 Eagle and commanded units equipped with the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the A-10 Thunderbolt II. He held command of a fighter squadron, an operations group, and a wing, and he served as commander of Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Combat Command. On the joint staff, Moseley was Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command and Director of Operations for U.S. Central Command during operations related to the Gulf War and subsequent regional contingencies. Assignments in the Pentagon included roles in manpower, personnel, and operations policy, with interaction across the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Department of Defense acquisition and requirements communities. He was involved in theater air campaign planning, close air support coordination, and the integration of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms including the RQ-4 Global Hawk and the MQ-1 Predator.
As Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, Moseley served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff advising the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council on air, space, and cyber issues. He advocated for modernization programs such as fifth-generation fighters exemplified by the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, strategic airlift platforms like the C-17 Globemaster III, and tanker recapitalization including the KC-135 Stratotanker follow-on efforts. Moseley emphasized readiness for expeditionary operations and supported development of persistent ISR capabilities involving the U-2 Dragon Lady and the E-3 Sentry. During his tenure he engaged with Congress, including committees such as the United States Senate Armed Services Committee and the United States House Committee on Armed Services, on budget priorities and force structure. He also participated in international defense cooperation with partners such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and bilateral dialogues with the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan.
After retiring, Moseley joined boards and advisory roles across the defense and aerospace sector, including positions with corporations associated with the Defense industry and contractors involved in platforms like the F-35 Lightning II, MQ-9 Reaper, and satellite systems. He provided consulting to firms engaged in logistics, training, and simulation, and spoke at events hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Aerospace Industries Association, and defense trade shows such as AUSA conferences. Moseley has been affiliated with think tanks and academic institutions, contributing to panels on air-power projection, homeland defense, and coalition operations involving allies including NATO members and regional partners.
Moseley’s tenure attracted scrutiny over issues including procurement debates, tanker acquisition strategies involving the KC-45 and KC-46 competitions, and the pace of modernization versus operational demands in Iraq War and War in Afghanistan (2001–present) theaters. Critics in the United States Congress and defense oversight bodies raised questions about acquisition cost growth, requirements changes for programs like the F-35 Lightning II, and decisions affecting readiness and force structure reductions. Additionally, some advocacy groups and media outlets debated Air Force emphasis on unmanned systems versus manned platforms, and Moseley faced questions about personnel policies linked to social and cultural issues within service ranks. Investigations and hearings involving the Department of Defense and the Government Accountability Office touched on acquisition and contracting matters relevant to programs overseen during his service.
Moseley is married and has family ties in Illinois; he has been involved with veteran organizations, alumni activities at the United States Air Force Academy, and charitable initiatives supporting wounded warriors and air-power heritage at institutions like the National Museum of the United States Air Force. His legacy is reflected in debates over modernization of platforms such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, the operational employment of ISR systems like the MQ-1 Predator, and institutional reforms in Air Combat Command and expeditionary force concepts. He has been recognized with decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal and continues to be cited in discussions of 21st-century air power, procurement reform, and joint force integration.
Category:United States Air Force generals Category:1949 births Category:Living people