Brig. Gen. Stephen P. Snelson is the Deputy Commander, United States Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. As the air component to U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, USAFE- AFAFRICA is responsible for delivering full-spectrum warfighting capabilities to both combatant commanders across an area of responsibility encompassing 104 nations in Europe, Africa, Asia as well as the Arctic and Atlantic regions.
Brig. Gen. Snelson commissioned in 1997 as a Syracuse University Reserve Officer Training Corps Distinguished Graduate. He commanded at the squadron, wing and Center levels. Additionally, he held multiple major command and combatant command staff assignments. He is a command pilot with combat missions supporting operations Allied Force, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.
Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Snelson served as the Commander of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, leading 12,000 Airmen responsible for the global air mobility support system, world-wide contingency response and the planning and execution of Joint and Multinational Exercises.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Fla.
2009 Intermediate Service School, CSAF POLAD Fellowship, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
2010 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of Strategic Science, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2018 Air Force Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2020 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler School of Business, Chapel Hill, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1997–October 1998, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 1998–February 2002, C-17 Instructor Pilot, 15th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
3. February 2002–January 2005, Evaluator Pilot, Flight Commander, Chief of Special Operations, Special Operations Planner, 16th AS, Charleston AFB, S.C.
4. January 2005–November 2005, Operations Planner, C-17 Program Integration Office, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
5. November 2005–July 2006, Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 535th Airlift Squadron, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
6. July 2006–July 2007, Action Officer, Commander Pacific Air Forces Action Group, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
7. July 2007–May 2008, Aide-de-Camp, COMPACAF, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
8. May 2008–May 2009, Foreign Policy Fellow, Office of the Political Advisor to the CSAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. May 2009–June 2011, Political-Military Planner, Strategic Plans and Policy, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. June 2011–June 2013, Commander, 305th Operations Support Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix, Lakehurst, N.J.
11. June 2013–June 2014, Student, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
12. June 2014–July 2016, Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
13. July 2016–June 2018, Vice Commander, 62nd Airlift Wing, JB Lewis-McChord, Wash.
14. June 2018–May 2020, Commander, 6th Air Refueling Wing (formerly 6th AMW), MacDill AFB, Fla.
15. June 2020–May 2021, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing, JB Andrews, Md.
16. July 2021–April 2022, Director, U.S. Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center, Southwest Asia
17. April 2022–June 2023, Deputy Director of Operations, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
18. July 2023–July 2024, Vice Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
19. July 2024–September 2025, Commander, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
20. September 2025–November 2025, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
21. November 2025–present, Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2009–June 2011, Political-Military Planner, Strategic Plans and Policy, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
2. July 2021–April 2022, Director, U.S. Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center, Northeast Africa, across the Middle East, to Central and South Asia, as a brigadier general
3. April 2022–June 2023, Deputy Director of Operations, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. as a brigadier general
4. July 2023–July 2024, Vice Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla. as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,300
Aircraft flown: C-17, KC-135, C-32, KC-10, T-1 and T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
(Current as of November 2025)