Brig. Gen. Jesse J. “Ammo” Friedel is the Commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He reports directly to the Air Force Chief of Staff regarding the test and evaluation of more than 98 major acquisition programs being assessed at 17 locations and valued at more than $1 trillion. He directs the activities of more than 750 military, civilian and contractor personnel. As a key leader of the test and evaluation community, Brig. Gen. Friedel coordinates directly with the offices of the Secretary of Defense and Department of the Air Force while executing realistic, objective and impartial operational testing and evaluation of Air Force, Space Force, coalition and joint warfighting capabilities.
Brig. Gen. Friedel received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1996. He earned his pilot wings from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas in 1998. Following his transition to the F-16, he served in multiple operational squadrons as an F-16 Mission Commander, Instructor Pilot, Weapons Instructor Pilot, Operational Test and Evaluation Instructor Pilot, and Flight Evaluator. He has commanded at the flight, squadron and wing levels.
Brig. Gen. Friedel is a command pilot with more than 2,900 fighter hours and has flown in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Northern Watch, Noble Eagle and South Korea defense obligations, to include 404 combat hours. During his European staff tour, he was selected to be a part of the Air Component Coordination Element as the Combat Air Forces Liaison Officer working with the Joint Task Force for Operation Odyssey Dawn.
Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Friedel was the United States Air Force Warfare Center Deputy Commander, Nellis AFB, Nevada.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2003 United States Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, F-16 Division, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2003 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Master of Business Administration and Management, Finance, Touro University International, Nev., by correspondence
2009 Master of Science, Operational Analysis, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2018 National Defense Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.
2021 Leading Strategically Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2024 Combined Forces Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1997–February 1998, Student Pilot, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, 80th Flight Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. February 1998–May 1998, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 49th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. May 1998–November 1998, F-16 Student Pilot, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, 308th FS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. November 1998–January 1999, F-16 Student, Night Vision Goggle/Medium Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night Course, 310th FS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. January 1999–January 2000, F-16CG Wingmen, Assistant Weapons Officer, 36th FS, Osan Air Base, South Korea
6. January 2000–January 2001, F-16CG Wingmen, Assistant Standardization and Evaluation Officer, 421st FS, Hill AFB, Utah
7. January 2001–October 2001, F-16CG Flight Lead, Mission Commander, Wing Air/Ground Weapons Officer, 388th OSS, Hill AFB, Utah
8. October 2001–December 2002, F-16CG Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Noble Eagle Detachment CC, 421st FS, Hill AFB, Utah
9. January 2003–July 2003, Student, United States Air Force Weapons School, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. July 2003–May 2006, F-16CJ Chief of Weapons, Flight Evaluator, Flight Commander, 23rd FS, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
11. May 2006–April 2007, F-16CJ Chief of Weapons, Assistant Director of Operations, 389st FS, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
12. April 2007–December 2007, F-16 Operational Test Instructor Pilot, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. December 2007–May 2009, F-16 Operational Test Instructor Pilot, Division Commander, 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
14. May 2009–July 2010, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
15. July 2010–August 2012, Chief, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe Operations and Training Branch, Ramstein AB, Germany
16. September 2012–April 2013, F-16CJ Instructor Pilot, Chief of Safety, Shaw AFB, S.C.
17. April 2013–January 2014, Commander, 451st Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Kandahar AB, Afghanistan
18. January 2014–April 2014, U.S. Air Forces Central/A3 (Forward) Deputy Director of Operations, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
19. August 2014–June 2017, Chief, Air and Sea Branch, J-8, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. June 2017–July 2018, National Defense Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.
21. July 2018–June 2020, Vice Commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, South Korea
22. July 2020–June 2022, Commander, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
23. July 2022–June 2024, Deputy Commander, Fifth Air Force, Yokota AB, Japan
24. June 2024–August 2025, Deputy Commander, United States Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
25. September 2025–present, Commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland, N.M.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2014–June 2017, Chief, Air and Sea Branch, J-8, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,900
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16 Blk 25/30/40/42/50/52, C-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Combat Action Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2021 Pacific Air Forces’ Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley award
Defense Cooperation Medal, Government of Japan
Honorable Order of Saint Barbara, 38 ADA, Air Defense Artillery Association
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, Government of Japan
(Current as of September 2025)