Brig. Gen. Sean M. Carpenter is the Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs (AF/A8), the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He assists in developing, integrating, and recommending strategic planning and programming options to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force to meet worldwide air, space, and cyber requirements and support the national military strategy.
Brig. Gen. Carpenter received his commission in June 1996 from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, in 1998, and was assigned as an F-16C pilot. He is a veteran of Operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Noble Eagle and Iraqi Freedom. He has commanded at the wing, group and squadron level, graduated the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy as a Distinguished Graduate at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. and served as the Director, Commander’s Action Group, for the Chief of the Air Force Reserve. Brig. Gen. Carpenter is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, including 325 combat hours.
In his civilian capacity, he is a First Officer and Line Validation Pilot with a major airline.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
1997 Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2011 Naval Strategy and War Course, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2013 Theater Decision Making Course, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2013 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2016 Distinguished Graduate, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2019 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2021 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Senior Officer Policy Course, NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1996–June 1997, Student, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
2. July 1997–November 1998, Student Pilot, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
3. December 1998–November 1999, F-16 Student Pilot, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. December 1999–November 2002, Chief of Wing Scheduling, 78th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
5. December 2002–November 2003, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, 80th FS, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
6. December 2003–November 2006, Fighter Associate Program Flight Commander, 93rd FS, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.
7. December 2006–May 2009, Chief of Scheduling, 93rd FS, Homestead ARB, Fla.
8. June 2009–April 2011, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 482nd Operations Group, Homestead ARB, Fla.
9. May 2010–February 2013, Chief of Wing Combat Readiness/Inspections, 482nd FW, Homestead ARB, Fla.
10. March 2013–September 2013, Assistant Director of Operations, 93rd FS, Homestead ARB, Fla.
11. September 2013–July 2015, Commander, 84th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
12. August 2015–June 2016, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
13. July 2016–July 2017, Director, Commander’s Action Group, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
14. August 2017–March 2018, Individual Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Safety, AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
15. March 2018–July 2019, Commander, 419th OG, Hill AFB, Utah
16. August 2019–June 2021, Commander, 926th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
17. July 2021–January 2024, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Plans, Programs and Requirements, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
18. February 2024–present, Mobilization Assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,000 including 325 combat hours
Aircraft flown: 757/67, DC-9, T-38, F-16, F-35
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
(Current as of March 2024)