Brig. Gen. Christopher M. Zidek is the Deputy Commander of the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Norfolk, Virginia. He is the principal advisor to the JECC Commander and senior staff, providing oversight of daily operations and responsibility for 1,400 personnel. A subordinate joint unit of U.S. Transportation Command, the JECC’s mission is to provide critical capabilities to support rapid establishment of joint force headquarters or in support of other missions, including exercises and planning efforts. He also serves as the JECC’s Reserve Component focal point in dealing with USTRANSCOM, the services, the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, coalition partners and other defense agencies.
Brig. Gen. Zidek is a native of Coronado, California, and received his commission in 1996 through the Air Force ROTC program at San Diego State University. He is a master navigator with more than 2,500 flying hours and has served in a variety of flying units including operational, training and flight test operations. He has flown combat missions in support of operations Enduring Freedom, Allied Force and Northern and Southern Watch and held numerous headquarters staff and command positions. He also serves as a Presidential Advance Agent, responsible for planning and executing Air Force One movements, worldwide. Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Zidek served as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, 18th Air Force, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice Administration, San Diego State University, Calif.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2010 Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
2012 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2015 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2021 NATO Senior Officer Policy Course, Oberammergau, Germany
2021 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2022 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2023 Leadership Decision Making Course; John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1996–May 1997, Student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
2. May 1997–January 1998, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
3. January 1998–May 1998, Student, KC-135R Combat Crew Training School, 55th Air Refueling Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Okla.
4. May 1998–April 2002, KC-135R Navigator, Instructor and Evaluator, 349th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
5. April 2002–September 2004, KC-135R Combat Crew Training School/Central Flight Instructor Course Instructor/Evaluator Navigator, 54th Air Refueling Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
6. September 2004–January 2010, KC-135 E/R, Functional Check Flight Instructor and Evaluator Navigator, Assistant Operations Officer, Life Support Officer, Chief of Safety, Chief of Current Operations, 313th Flight Test Flight, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
7. January 2010–March 2012, Chief of Safety, 413th Flight Test Group, Robins AFB, Ga.
8. March 2012–December 2013, Commander, 313th Flight Test Flight, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
9. December 2013–July 2014, Mobility Air Force Programmer, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command A8, Robins AFB, Ga.
10. July 2014–May 2015, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. May 2015–June 2016, Chief, Total Force Integration, Secretary of the Air Force Chief of Staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group, Arlington, Va.
12. June 2016–October 2016, Director of Staff, Assistants to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard and Reserve Matters, the Joint Staff, Arlington, Va.
13. October 2016–June 2018, Deputy Division Chief, Transregional Threats Coordination Cell, J5, the Joint Staff, Arlington, Va.
14. June 2018–July 2020, Commander, 413th Flight Test Group, Robins AFB, Ga.
15. July 2020–August 2022, Commander, 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
16. August 2022–August 2023, Commander, Force Generation Center, Headquarters AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
17. August 2023–July 2025, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Ill.
18. July 2025–present, Deputy Commander, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Norfolk, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2016–October 2016, Director of Staff, Assistants to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard and Reserve Matters, the Joint Staff, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
2. October 2016–June 2018, Deputy Division Chief, Transregional Threats Coordination Cell, J5, the Joint Staff, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
3. July 2025–present, Deputy Commander, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Norfolk, Va., as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: master navigator
Flight hours: more than 2,500
Aircraft flown: C-130, KC-135 E/R/T, T-43, T-34C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
(Current as of November 2025)