Maj. Gen. William D. Betts is the Director of Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. He is responsible for planning and programming $60 billion annually, for a force of more than 150,000 personnel and more than 2,000 aircraft, supporting 10 unified commands and the North American Aerospace Defense Command. He is also responsible for functions relating to the Combat Air Forces’ weapons systems acquisition, modernization, sustainment and test involving more than 140 programs. Additionally, he directs a staff of 25 divisions and more than 700 personnel.
Maj. Gen. Betts received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in May 1995. He has served as an F-35 and F-16 Instructor Pilot and an F-16 Weapons Officer. He has operational experience in Far East Asia as well as combat tours in operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve. He is a command pilot with more than 2,400 flying hours in the F-16 and F-35.
Prior to his current position, Maj. Gen. Betts was the Director of Operations, 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central) where he managed the newly combined Air Force Forces Staff and Air Operations Center to support United States Central Command Campaigns and Operations on behalf of the Commander.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Engineering Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Advanced Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, United Kingdom
2009 Masters, Political Science, King’s College, London
2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1995–March 1997, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. March 1997–December 1997, Student, F-16 Formal Training Unit, 308th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. January 1998–October 2000, Electronic Combat Pilot, 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
4. October 2000–July 2002, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea
5. July 2002–December 2002, Student, Weapons Instructor Course, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. December 2002–December 2004, Chief, Weapons and Tactics, 524th Fighter Weapons Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
7. January 2005–July 2008, Director of Operations, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. July 2008–July 2009, Student, Advanced Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, United Kingdom
9. July 2009–July 2010, Senior Air Defense Officer, Joint Force Air Component Headquarters, Royal Air Force High Wycombe, United Kingdom
10. July 2010–May 2013, F-35 Initial Cadre, Chief of Safety, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
11. May 2011–May 2013, Commander, 33rd Operational Support Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
12. May 2013–April 2014, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. May 2014–July 2016, Deputy Chief, Joint Doctrine Division, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. July 2016–July 2017, Commander, 8th Operations Group, Kunsan AB, South Korea
15. July 2017–June 2019, Commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, South Korea
16. June 2019–June 2020, Headquarters U.S. Air Force A8, Engine Room Chief, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. June 2020–May 2022, Vice Commander, 1st Air Force and Air Forces Northern Command, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
18. May 2022–June 2023, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan AB, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
19. June 2023–July 2024, Director of Operations, 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central), Shaw AFB, S.C.
20. July 2024–present, Director, Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2014–July 2016, Deputy Chief, Joint Doctrine Division, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel then colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: more than 2,400
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16 and F-35
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
(Current as of August 2024)