Brig. Gen. Kurt Helphinstine is the Special Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe - U.S. 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. Helphinstine was commissioned in 1999, from Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the University of Portland. He has served as an evaluator pilot, weapons officer and U.S. Air Force Weapons School instructor in the F-15E. He has commanded at the squadron and wing level and has served on the Joint, Headquarters Air Force, and Air Combat Command staffs.
Brig. Gen. Helphinstine is a Command Pilot with more than 3,100 hours. He has deployed to the U.S. Central Command AOR eight times, compiling over 977 combat hours. Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Helphinstine was the Deputy Commander for 7th Air Force at Osan Air Base, South Korea.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, University of Portland, Ore.
2006 USAF Weapons School, F-15E; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2008 Master of Arts, Business Management, American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va.
2011 Master of Arts, Military Studies, U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va.
2017 National Security Affairs Fellow, Hoover Institute, Stanford, Calif.
2018 Joint Professional Military Education, Phase II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1999–May 2001, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. June 2001–March 2002, Student, F-15E Basic Course, 333rd Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
3. April 2002–January 2005, F-15E Pilot, Scheduler, Assistant Chief of Weapons, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
4. February 2005–January 2008, F-15E Flight Examiner, Security Officer, Chief of Tactics, 492nd FS, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom
5. February 2008–June 2011, F-15E USAF Weapons School Instructor, Mission Employment Project Officer, Chief of Wing Weapons, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. July 2011–June 2012, Student, USMC Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va.
7. July 2012–June 2014, Action Officer, Joint Chief of Staff, J-35 Joint Operations Directorate, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. July 2014–July 2016, Assistant Director of Operations and Commander, 494th FS, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
9. August 2016–May 2017, National Security Affairs Fellow, Hoover Institute, Stanford, Calif.
10. June 2017–June 2018, Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
11. July 2018–June 2020, Deputy Commander for Operations, 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
12. June 2020–May 2022, Commander, 4th FW, Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, N.C.
13. June 2022–June 2023, Executive Officer to the Air Force Chief of Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. June 2023–July 2024, Commander, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility
15. July 2024–July 2026, Deputy Commander, 7th Air Force, Osan Air Base, South Korea
16. July 2026–present, Special Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight/Combat hours: 3,100 flight hours/977 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-15E, T-37, T-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Action Medal
(Current as of August 2026)