Major General FERDINAND B. STOSS

Maj. Gen. Ferdinand B. Stoss III was the Director, Plans and Policy, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. As Director, he was the senior strategist for U.S. Strategic Command, comprised of over 130,000 personnel. He lead 375 personnel that developed strategy for the command’s responsibilities, to include strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, global strike operations, and missile defense. His directorate builds and maintains Department of Defense nuclear war contingency plans, and provides strategic support for theater combatant commanders and the command’s campaign plan. Maj. Gen. Stoss supported development of nuclear force postures, arms control policy, and lead integration of strategic deterrence activities with allies and partners.

Maj. Gen. Stoss entered active-duty service in 1988 after commissioning through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Kansas State University. He holds a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Operations from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Science degree in History from University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Maj. Gen. Stoss largely served in the nuclear enterprise. Positions held include Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Launch Officer, Command Operations Evaluator, U.S. Strategic Command War Planner, Squadron Commander, Deputy Group Commander, Vice Wing Commander, Wing Commander, Numbered Air Force Commander, and several nuclear-related staff positions. Other staff assignments include AFROTC instructor duty and Military Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Prior to his current assignment, Maj. Gen. Stoss served as the Commander, 20th Air Force, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, where he led over 12,000 personnel, to include the nation’s land-based nuclear deterrent force.

EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan
1993 Master of Science, Aerospace Operations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
1993 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence and in residence
2000 College of Naval Command and Staff, with highest distinction, Newport, R.I.
2000 Naval Operational Planner Course, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2003 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2006 Master of Science, History, University of Nebraska at Omaha
2007 Senior Developmental Education Fellow, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
2009 Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2010 Enterprise Leadership Course, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
2010 Senior Executives Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2011 National Security Forum, The Maxwell School, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1988–July 1988, Student, 4315th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
2. July 1988–May 1992, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Combat Crew Commander, Standardization/Evaluation Combat Crew Commander and Senior Standardization/Evaluation Missile Crew Commander, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
3. May 1992–October 1993, Command Operations Evaluator, 3901st Strategic Missile Evaluation Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
4. October 1993–May 1995, Command Operations Evaluator, 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
5. May 1995–July 1997, Instructor, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 470, Omaha, Neb.
6. July 1997–July 1999, Chief, Missile Production and Scheduling Section, Strategic Plans Division, Plans and Policy Directorate, U.S. Strategic Command, Omaha, Neb.
7. July 1999–August 2000, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff and Naval Operational Planner Course, Newport, R.I.
8. August 2000–May 2003, Military Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Staff, New York, N.Y.
9. May 2003–February 2004, Operations Officer, 12th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
10. February 2004–June 2005, Commander, 10th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
11. June 2005–June 2006, Deputy Commander, 341st Operations Group, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
12. June 2006–June 2007, Student, Air Force Senior Development Education Fellowship, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
13. June 2007–June 2008, Chief, Nuclear Operations Division, Directorate of Nuclear Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. June 2008–October 2009, Vice Commander, 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
15. October 2009–June 2011, Commander, 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.
16. June 2011–June 2012, Chief of Operations, Global Operations Directorate, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
17. June 2012–January 2014, Deputy Director for Nuclear Operations, Global Operations Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb.
18. January 2014–March 2016, Director of Strategic Plans, Programs, Requirements, and Assessments, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
19. March 2016–January 2018, Director of Operations and Communications, Headquarters AFGSC, Barksdale AFB, La.
20. January 2018–July 2020, Commander, 20th Air Force, AFGSC, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
21. July 2020–April 2022, Director, Plans and Policy, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb.

OPERATIONAL INFORMATION
Master Missile Operator Badge
Minuteman II and Minuteman III Weapon Systems
Officer aircrew with more than 550 hours on E-6B Looking Glass as Airborne Emergency Action Officer

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with “N” device and three oak leaf clusters

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1992 General Thomas S. Power Award for Best ICBM Combat Crew in Strategic Air Command
1991 Best ICBM Combat Crew and Best ICBM Operations, Olympic Arena, Strategic Air Command
1991 General Samuel C. Phillips Award for Best Missileer in Eighth Air Force

(Current as of May 2022)