General JACQUELINE D. VAN OVOST

Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost is the 14th Commander of U.S. Transportation Command, one of 11 combatant commands in the Department of Defense. USTRANSCOM’s mission is to project and sustain military power globally in order to assure our friends and allies, deter potential adversaries, and if necessary, respond to win decisively.

Gen. Van Ovost has a diverse operational and training background which includes command of an air refueling squadron, a flying training wing and the Presidential Airlift Wing. She is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and a command pilot with more than 4,200 hours in more than 30 aircraft, including the C-32A, C-17A, C-141B, KC-135R and KC-46A.

She has held several staff and joint assignments, serving as the Director of Staff for Headquarters Air Force, the Vice Director of the Joint Staff, the Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs (Europe, NATO, Russia), Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Staff, the Director of Mobility Forces for U.S. Central Command, the Vice Commander of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, and the Joint Operations Division Chief, Operations and Plans Directorate (J3), USTRANSCOM.

Gen. Van Ovost graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1988 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. She also holds master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, and Military Arts and Sciences, and Strategic Studies from the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

Her decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, and the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster.

Prior to her current position, Gen. Van Ovost served as the Commander, Air Mobility Command.

EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1994 U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1996 Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Fresno
1999 Master of Military Arts and Sciences, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2009 National Security Management Course, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2009 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2017 Driving Government Performance, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Boston, Mass.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1988–August 1989, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
2. August 1989–June 1993, C-141B Pilot, 17th and 76th Airlift Squadrons, Charleston AFB, S.C.
3. June 1993–June 1994, Student, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
4. June 1994–October 1997, Experimental Test Pilot, 417th/418th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
5. October 1997–July 1998, Test Pilot Instructor and Chief, Scheduling Branch, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
6. July 1998–June 1999, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. June 1999–June 2001, Chief, C-17 Acquisition Branch and C-17 Program Element Monitor, Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Arlington, Va.
8. July 2001–December 2001, Assistant Director of Operations, 350th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
9. January 2002–July 2003, Commander, 384th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
10. July 2003–June 2004, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. July 2004–April 2007, Chief, Standards Branch then Chief, Joint Operations Division, Operations and Plans Directorate, U.S.Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
12. May 2007–March 2008, Vice Commander, 12th Flying Training Wing, Randolph AFB, Texas
13. March 2008–February 2010, Commander, 12th FTW, Randolph AFB, Texas
14. February 2010–March 2012, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
15. March 2012–September 2013, Vice Commander, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Travis AFB, Calif.
16. September 2013–February 2015, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs (Europe, NATO, Russia), Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. February 2015–August 2017, Vice Director, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. August 2017–November 2017, Special Assistant to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. November 2017–April 2020, Director of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. April 2020–August 2020, Deputy Commander, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
21. August 2020–October 2021, Commander, Headquarters AMC, Scott AFB, Ill.
22. October 2021–present, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2004–April 2007, Chief, Joint Operations Division, Operations and Plans Directorate, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., as a lieutenant colonel
2. September 2013–February 2015, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs (Europe, NATO, Russia), Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a brigadier general
3. February 2015–August 2017, Vice Director, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a major general

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating:  command pilot
Flight Hours:  more than 4,200
Aircraft Flown:  C-32A, C-12C, C-17A, C-23A, C-141B/A, KC-135R, KC-46A, F-15B, F-16B, T-1A, T-37B and T-38A

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

(Current as of September 2024)