Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Gould is the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations at NATO's Headquarters Allied Air Command, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In this capacity, General Gould is responsible for all operational related matters, including Air Policing, Ballistic Missile Defense, Article 5, and Crisis Response Operations. In addition, General Gould ensures HQ Allied Air Command is prepared to establish an operational AOC if required for an emerging Contingency Operation. Prior to his current assignment, General Gould served as Director, Security Assistance in the Office of Security Cooperation, Baghdad, Iraq where he supported the strategic partnership with Iraq, advising their Ministry of Defense on foreign military sales and training.
Gen. Gould received his Air Force commission through Officer Training School and started his career as a research and development engineer on the F-16 and B-2 Bomber programs. Later he transitioned to operations and flew the F-16 as an Instructor and Flight Examiner. General Gould commanded the 522d Fighter Squadron at Cannon AFB, NM; the 31st Operations Group at Aviano Air Base, Italy; and the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing at Ramstein AB, Germany. He is a command pilot with more than 2,700 flying hours, including more than 300 combat hours.
Gen. Gould’s staff assignments include tours with the Air Staff in Plans and Programs, the Secretary of the Air Force Commander’s Action Group, Military Aide to the President of the United States, and Vice Commander, 14th Air Force.
EDUCATION
1984 Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering, State University of New York
1991 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1995 Master's degree in human resource management, Troy State University, Ala.
1998 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2006 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master's degree in strategic studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Space Operations Executive Level Course, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2012 AFSO21 Senior Leadership Course, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1984 - August 1987, engineer, B-2/ F-16 System Program Offices, Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio
2. September 1987 - September 1988, student, undergraduate pilot training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. October 1988 - January 1989, student, lead-in fighter training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
4. February 1989 - August 1989, student, F-16 initial qualification training, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. September 1989 - May 1992, Chief, Squadron Programs, 512th Fighter Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
6. June 1992 - August 1992, student, F-16 LANTIRN training, Luke AFB, Ariz.
7. September 1992 - September 1993, F-16 instructor pilot; Chief, Squadron Plans; Chief, Squadron Training and Programming, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, Korea
8. October 1993 - June 1996, Flight Commander instructor pilot, 78th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
9. June 1996 - July 1997, aide and instructor pilot to Commander of 9th Air Force/CENTAF, Shaw AFB, S.C.
10. August 1997 - April 1999, deputy panel chair, Air Superiority Division, Directorate of Programs, HQ U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. May 1999 - April 2000, member, Secretary of the Air Force's Action Group, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. March 2000 - March 2002, U.S. Air Force military aide to the President, The White House, Washington, D.C.
13. April 2002 - August 2002, F-16C requalification training, Luke AFB, N.M.
14. September 2002 - May 2003, Chief of Safety, 27th Fighter Wing, Cannon AFB, N.M.
15. May 2003 - July 2004, Director of Operations, 524th Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
16. July 2004 - Nov 2005, Commander, 522d Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
17. December 2005 - June 2007, student and staff, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
18. June 2007 - May 2009, Commander, 31st Operations Group, Aviano AB, Italy
19. June 2009 - July 2009, Commander, 435th Air Base Wing Commander, Ramstein AB, Germany
20. July 2009 - December 2010, Commander, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
21. December 2010 - February 2013, Vice Commander, 14th Air Force, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
22. March 2013 - March 2014, Director, Security Assistance in the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq
23. April 2014 - present, Deputy Chief of Operations, Headquarters Allied Command, Ramstein AB, Germany
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 2000 - March 2002, U.S. Air Force Military Aide to the President, the White House, Washington D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
2. March 2013 – March 2014, Director, Security Assistance in the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq, as a brigadier general
3. April 2014 - present, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Headquarters Allied Air Command, Ramstein AB, Germany, as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,700, including more than 300 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-16 Blocks 25/30/40/50
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 28, 1984
First Lieutenant Aug. 28, 1986
Captain Aug. 28, 1988
Major July 1, 1996
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2001
Colonel March 1, 2006
Brigadier General Aug. 2, 2011
(Current as of May 2015)