Lt. Gen. David H. Tabor is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, United States Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. He leads the development, integration, evaluation, and analysis of the Air Force’s Program Objective Memorandum and Resource Allocation Plan in support of the Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Air Force. As the Air Force’s senior planner and programmer, he directs and coordinates activities ensuring the Air Force builds and employs effective air and cyber forces to achieve national defense objectives.
Lt. Gen. Tabor graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1992 after earning his commission through ROTC at Samford University. He has commanded at the squadron, group, wing and joint component command levels. Lt. Gen. Tabor is a command pilot with more than 2,300 hours in a variety of Special Operations Forces aircraft. He has spent most of his career in special operations, including multiple combat deployments in support of operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, Kosovo and Pakistan.
Prior to his current position, Lt. Gen. Tabor was the Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Arts, History, Birmingham-Southern College, Ala.
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Master of Science, Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2008 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Master of Science, Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1993–April 1995, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. April 1995–October 1995, Chief of Training, 72nd Helicopter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
3. October 1995–December 1996, Student, 551st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. December 1996–November 1999, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 21st Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
5. November 1999–July 2003, Flight Commander, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
6. July 2003–July 2004, Aide-de-Camp, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
7. August 2004–July 2005, Student, Joint Forces Staff College, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk, Va.
8. July 2005–June 2007, Chief Operational Planner, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Fla.
9. June 2007–August 2009, Commander, 6th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
10. August 2009–July 2010, Division Chief, Irregular Warfare Combat Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.
11. July 2010–August 2011, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
12. September 2011–May 2012, Commander, 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, Kabul, Afghanistan
13. May 2012–February 2014, Commander, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
14. February 2014–July 2016, Commander, Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
15. August 2016–July 2017, Special Assistant to Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
16. August 2017–May 2018, Vice Director, Strategy, Policy, and Plans, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
17. June 2018–July 2020, Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
18. July 2020–August 2022, Commander, Special Operations Command-Europe, Patch Barracks, Germany
19. August 2022–June 2024, Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.
20. July 2024–present, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2003–July 2004, Aide-de-Camp, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a major
2. July 2005–June 2007, Chief Operational Planner, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Fla., as a lieutenant colonel
3. May 2012–January 2014, Commander, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a lieutenant colonel
4. August 2016–August 2017, Special Assistant to Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., as a colonel
5. August 2017–May 2018, Vice Director, Strategy, Policy, and Plans, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a brigadier general
6. June 2018–July 2020, Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a brigadier general
7. August 2020–June 2022, Commanding General, Special Operations Command-Europe, Patch Barracks, Germany, as a major general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: more than 2,300
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, UH-1N, MH-60, MH-53J, MH-53M, Mi-17, C-130 and C-145
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with “V” device
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal
Air and Space Force Achievement Medal
Combat Action Medal
(Current as of August 2024)