Lt. Gen. Case A. Cunningham is the Commander, Alaskan Command, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Region (ANR), and Eleventh Air Force, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. As the Commander of ALCOM, a subordinate unified command of US Northern Command, he is the supported commander for USNORTHCOM campaigning in the Alaskan Theater of Operations. His role is to deter aggression while being prepared to transition to homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities contingency operations. As the Commander of ANR, Lt. Gen. Cunningham directs operations to conduct aerospace control within its area of operations and contributes to NORAD's aerospace warning mission. Finally, Lt. Gen. Cunningham commands 11th AF, overseeing the required training and readiness to provide combat ready forces for the Commander of Pacific Air Forces through five Air Force wings and two direct reporting units with installations located in Alaska, Hawaii and Guam.
Lt. Gen. Cunningham received his commission in 1994 from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has served as the commander of the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, two wings and as the commander and leader of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the "Thunderbirds."
Lt. Gen. Cunningham is a command pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours, including more than 600 combat hours in three different aircraft, in multiple areas of operation.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1999 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Air Command & Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2006 Master of Arts, National Security Studies, American Military University
2006 Master of Science, Strategic Leadership, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
2007 Master of Airpower Art & Science, School of Advanced Air & Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Air University Lorenz Fellowship, Las Vegas, Nev.
2013 Doctor of Philosophy, Military Strategy, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Joint & Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2023 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Senior Joint Information Operations Applications Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1994–January 1996, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
2. February 1996–March 1996, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. March 1996–October 1996, Student, F-15C Replacement Training Unit, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. October 1996–June 1999, F-15C Instructor Pilot, 19th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
5. July 1999–December 1999, Student, F-15C U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. January 2000–May 2002, Chief of Weapons, Flight Commander, 27th Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
7. June 2002–November 2004, Assistant Operations Officer, Flight Commander, 433rd Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. December 2004–May 2005, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, Air Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. June 2005–June 2006, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
10. July 2006–June 2007, Student, School of Advanced Air & Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. July 2007–January 2008, Student, F-22A Qualification Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
12. February 2008–June 2009, Director of Operations, 43rd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
13. July 2009–October 2009, Student, F-16 Qualification Training, Luke AFB, Ariz.
14. January 2010–January 2012, Commander/Leader, U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds,” Nellis AFB, Nev.
15. January 2012–June 2012, Student, Air University Lorenz Fellowship, Las Vegas, Nev.
16. July 2012–July 2013, Vice Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
17. August 2013–June 2015, Special Assistant to the Director & U.S. Air Force Operational Liaison, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va.
18. June 2015–July 2017, Commander, 432nd Wing & 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Creech AFB, Nev.
19. July 2017–July 2019, Commander, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan
20. July 2019–June 2020, Deputy Director for Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
21. July 2020–June 2021, Director, Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
22. June 2021–August 2024, Commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
23. August 2024–present, Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Northern Command & Commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2013–June 2015, Special Assistant to the Director & U.S. Air Force Operational Liaison, Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
2. July 2019–June 2020, Deputy Director for Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, as a brigadier general
3. August 2024–present, Commander, Alaskan Region, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Northern Command & Commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, as a lieutenant general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,400
Aircraft flown: F-15C/D, F-22A, F-16C/D, MC-12W, and MQ-9
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
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 July 1, 2012
Brigadier General June 2, 2018
Major General September 2, 2020
Lieutenant General August 9, 2024
(Current as of January 2025)