Maj. Gen. Evan L. Pettus is the Commander, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. As the Air Force component to U.S. Southern Command, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) conducts security cooperation and provides air, space and cyberspace capabilities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) supports U.S. Southern Command to deter aggression, defeat threats, rapidly respond to crises and work with allies and partner nations to build regional capacity to ensure a secure, free and prosperous Western Hemisphere.
Prior to this assignment, Maj. Gen. Pettus was the Vice Commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where he was responsible for coordinating operational testing and tactics development programs and advanced training schools, exercises and venues in developing innovative leaders and Airmen with proven and tested technology, the most current tactics, academic training and opportunities to practice integrated force employment.
Maj. Gen. Pettus earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1994. He graduated from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas, and was first stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, as an F-15E pilot. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and is a command pilot with more than 2,700 hours. He has flown combat missions in operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Master of Business Administration, Bellevue University, Bellevue, Neb.
2004 F-15E Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Master of Science, Logistics Sciences, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2013 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Combined/Joint Forces Land Component Commander Course, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pa.
2022 Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Senior Joint Information Operations Applications Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Course, Miami, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1994–October 1995, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 1995–April 1996, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. April 1996–December 1996, Student, F-15E Formal Training Unit, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
4. December 1996–January 2000, F-15E Pilot, Mission Planning Officer and Assistant Chief of Training, 492nd Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom
5. January 2000–January 2002, Air Liaison Officer, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg Army Installation, Germany
6. January 2002–July 2004, F-15E Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 391st FS, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
7. July 2004–December 2004, Student, F-15E Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. December 2004–August 2005, Chief, Wing Combat Training, 366th Operations Support Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
9. August 2005–March 2006, Chief, Wing Weapons and Tactics, 3rd Operations Support Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
10. March 2006–April 2007, Director of Operations, 90th FS, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
11. April 2007–August 2008, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Ohio
12. August 2008–February 2009, Assistant Director of Operations, 366th OSS, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
13. February 2009–July 2009, Director of Operations, 391st FS, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
14. August 2009–January 2011, Commander, 389th FS, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
15. March 2011–June 2012, Chief, Commander’s Action Group, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
16. July 2012–May 2013, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
17. August 2013–June 2014, Vice Commander, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
18. July 2014–July 2016, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations, U.S. Forces, Korea
19. July 2016–July 2018, Commander, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, U.K.
20. July 2018–June 2020, Commandant, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
21. June 2020–June 2021, Commander, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan AB, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
22. July 2021–June 2022, Vice Commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
23. July 2022–present, Commander, 12th Air Force, Air Combat Command, and Commander, Air Forces Southern, U.S. Southern Command, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,700
Aircraft flown: F-15E and A-10
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 1994
First Lieutenant June 1, 1996
Captain June 1, 1998
Major July 1, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2008
Colonel Oct. 1, 2013
Brigadier General July 31, 2019
Major General July 3, 2022
(Current as of May 2023)