Maj. Gen. Scott A. Cain is Deputy Commander-Operations, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The command employs 89,000 people and manages $72 billion of budget authority annually. He oversees six centers responsible for installation and mission support, discovery and development, test and evaluation, life cycle management services, and sustainment of every Air Force weapon system, including the full scope of nuclear weapons sustainment.
As deputy commander, Maj. Gen. Cain is responsible for the evolution of aerospace systems from concept through production and into operation. His duties include directing policies and procedures for AFMC aircraft logistics, product acquisition and sustainment, technology research and development, and system test and evaluation to meet known and anticipated operational requirements. He manages worldwide logistics support to U.S. Air Force operating commands and foreign air force Security Assistance Programs. Finally, he supports the commander by ensuring Air Force guidance for installation and mission support functions across 10 major commands, two direct reporting units, and 77 installations worldwide.
Maj. Gen. Cain received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1995, where he was a Distinguished Graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering. He attended undergraduate pilot training in 1995 and was selected to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon. After completion of F-16 training, he served as an operational F-16 pilot in Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, and Misawa AB, Japan, flying combat missions in support of Operations Southern Watch. Maj. Gen. Cain then served in a series of highly demanding operational, test, and senior leadership positions across the U.S. Air Force. His early career was defined by front-line aviation leadership, flying the F-16 and F-117 Nighthawk before graduating from the prestigious U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. This foundation in flight test led to critical roles as a developmental test pilot, a DARPA fellow, and commander of the 40th Flight Test Squadron, followed by senior evaluation duties at the Pentagon. Building on this technical expertise, he excelled in senior command roles, leading the 412th Operations Group, the Arnold Engineering Development Complex, and the 96th Test Wing. He went on to direct Air, Space, and Cyberspace Operations at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command and commanded both the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Test Center.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Astronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
2003 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2005 U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Air Force Fellow, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va.
2011 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1995–October 1996, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. November 1996–February 1997, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. February 1997–October 1997, Student, F-16 Fighting Falcon Qualification Training, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. October 1997–September 1998, F-16 Pilot, Chief of Training, Kunsan Air Base,South Korea
5. October 1998–November 2000, F-16 Pilot, Chief of Current Operations, Misawa AB, Japan
6. December 2000–December 2004, F-117 Nighthawk Pilot, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Holloman AFB, N.M.
7. January 2005–December 2005, Student, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
8. January 2006–April 2008, Developmental Test Pilot, 416th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
9. May 2008–May 2009, Air Force Fellow, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va.
10. June 2009–May 2010, Operations Officer, classified location
11. June 2010–July2012, Commander, 40th FTS, Eglin AFB, Fla.
12. August 2012–July 2014, Senior Military Evaluator, Air Warfare, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Developmental Test and Evaluation, Washington D.C.
13. August 2014–June 2015, Student, Eisenhower School, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2015–June 2017, Commander, 412th Operations Group, Edwards AFB, Calif.
15. July 2017–July 2019, Commander, Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
16. July 2019–Jun 2022, Commander, 96th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
17. July 2022–June 2023, Director, Air, Space and Cyberspace Operations, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright- Patterson Air AFB, Ohio
18. June 2023–July 2024, Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
19. July 2024–July 2026, Commander, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.
20. July 2026–present, Deputy Commander-Operations, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,800 hours
Aircraft flown: 41 aircraft including F-35, F-16, F-117
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
(Current as of July 2026)