Lt. Gen. Case A. Cunningham serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He leads the development and implementation of policy directly supporting global operations, force management, training and readiness for the Air Force and serves as the Air Force Operations Deputy to the Air Force Chief of Staff.
Lt. Gen. Cunningham received his commission in 1994 from the United States Air Force Academy. He has served as the commander of ANR/ALCOM/11AF, the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, two wings and 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 and 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 and Science, School of Advanced Air and 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 and 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 and 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 and U.S. Air Force Operational Liaison, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va.
18. June 2015–July 2017, Commander, 432nd Wing and 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–October 2025, Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region, North American Aerospace Defense Command,
Commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Northern Command and Commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
24. October 2025 – present, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2013–June 2015, Special Assistant to the Director and 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–October 2025, Commander, Alaskan Region, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Northern Command and 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 with oak leaf cluster
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 Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
(Current as of November 2025)