Brig. Gen. Timothy M. Welter is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Plans and Programs for Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. As the air component to U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, USAFE-AFAFRICA provides full-spectrum warfighting capabilities across an area of responsibility encompassing 104 countries. In his role, Brig. Gen. Welter assists the Director in leading theater engagement by managing unit basing, organization and force structure. He also supports the development of the command's resource capability processes, doctrine review, strategy initiatives and political-military affairs program, while overseeing command-wide analyses and lessons learned. Prior to his current role, Brig. Gen. Welter served as the Deputy Commander, 22nd Air Force and as Deputy Commander, Integrated Capabilities Command (provisional).
Brig. Gen. Welter received his commission in 1997 from the Air Force Academy, earned his wings at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and was assigned to fly the C-5 Galaxy. In 2005, he transitioned to the Air Force Reserve. Brig. Gen. Welter has commanded at the Numbered Air Force, wing and squadron levels, served at the Pentagon in a variety of roles and as a Joint Mobility Operations Officer at U.S. Transportation Command.
In his civilian capacity, Brig. Gen. Welter is a senior research fellow at a think tank in the Washington, D.C. area and associate adjunct professor at Georgetown University. Brig. Gen. Welter is a command pilot and C-5 Instructor and Examiner Aircraft Commander with over 4,260 flying hours, including over 140 combat hours.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1998 Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2002 Advanced Instrument School, Randolph AFB, Texas
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Flight Safety Officer School, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2007 Master of Science, Management, University of Maryland University College, Adelphi
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by seminar
2014 Naval, Theater Security and Decision-Making Course, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2015 Reserve Components National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2015 Mobility Commanders' Tactics Course, Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, Mo.
2015 AFRC Squadron Commanders' Course, Robins AFB, Ga.
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Master of Arts, Political Science, University of Missouri, St. Louis
2018 National War College, Master of Science, National Security Strategy, Fort. Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Doctor of Philosophy, Political Science, University of Missouri, St. Louis
2021–2022 Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Seminar XXI, Program on Foreign Politics, International Relations and the National Interest
2024 Leadership for the 21st Century, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2025 General and Flag Officer CAPSTONE Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2025 Leading Data and Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Organizations, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. August 1997–August 1998, Student Pilot, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2. August 1998–December 2001, C-5 Aircraft Commander, Pilot Training Officer, Scheduler, 9th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
3. December 2001–September 2005, C-5 Examiner Aircraft Commander, Executive Officer to Squadron Commander; Deputy Chief, Standardization and Evaluation 22nd AS, Executive Officer to Commander, 60th Operations Group, Travis AFB, Calif.
4. September 2005–October 2010, C-5 Instructor Aircraft Commander, Flight Commander, 709th AS, Dover AFB, Del.
5. October 2010–November 2013, IMA to the Director, U.S. AF Reserve Policy Integration Directorate, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. December 2013–April 2015, Joint Mobility Operations Officer, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
7. April 2015–June 2017, Commander, 709th AS, Dover AFB, Del.
8. July 2017–June 2018, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
9. July 2018–February 2021, Chief, Air Force Reserve Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability Integration Cell, Directorate of Plans, Programs and Requirements, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. March 2021–July 2021, IMA to Director of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. July 2021–September 2022, Vice Commander, 512th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
12. September 2022–April 2024, Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. April 2024–January 2026, Deputy Commander, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.
14. January 2026–present, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Plans and Programs, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2013–April 2015, Joint Mobility Operations Officer, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: over 4,260, including more than 140 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-3, T-37, T-1A, C-5A/B/C/M
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2013–2015, Reserve advisory council member for the air force association
2016–2019, Seminar leader for reserve components national security course, national defense university
(Current as of March 2026)