Maj. Gen. David P. Garfield is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region; 1st Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Northern and U.S. Air Forces Space), Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Maj. Gen. Garfield is responsible for all policies and programs relating to the Air Force Reserve and assists the commander to organize, equip and operate air defense forces for the continental U.S., including aerospace warning and control supporting U.S. Northern Command and bi-national North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Prior to his current assignment Maj. Gen. Garfield was the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Education and Training Command (AETC), Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. Maj. Gen. Garfield assisted the commander in running the day-to-day operations of AETC, which includes the Air Force Recruiting Service, two numbered Air Forces and Air University. The command operates more than 1,400 trainer, fighter and mobility aircraft, with 24 wings, 11 installations and five geographically separated units.
Major General Garfield graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla., in 1989. He was a distinguished graduate of ROTC and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force in 1989. He earned his pilot wings in 1991 at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz. He served on active duty from 1990 to 1999 as a T-38 instructor pilot, flight examiner and F-16 pilot. He joined the Air Force Reserve in 1999 and has served in a variety of flying, staff and command assignments.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science Degree in Aircraft Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla., Cum Laude
2001 Squadron Officer School
2002 Air Command and Staff College
2003 Masters Degree in Aviation/Aerospace Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2007 Air War College
2021 Combined Forces Air Component Commander Course, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. February 1990–February 1991, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. May 199 –July 1991, student, T-38 Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. August 199 –December 1992, T-38 Instructor Pilot, 99th Flying Training Squadron, Williams AFB, Ariz.
4. January 1993–May 1995, T-38 Instructor Pilot, 50th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss.
5. May 1995–January 1996, T-38 Chief of Standardization Evaluation and Flight Examiner, 14th Operations Group, Columbus AFB, Miss.
6. February 1996–April 1996, student, Fighter Lead-In Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
7. May 1996–October 1996, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
8. October 1996–October 1999, Flight Commander, F-16 pilot, 78th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
9. October 1999–March 2002, Chief of Scheduling/Training, F-16 Instructor Pilot, 457th Fighter Squadron, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas
10. March 2002–September 2004, Chief of Standardization Evaluation and Flight Commander, F-16 Instructor Pilot/Flight Examiner, 301st Operations Group, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
11. September 2004–September 2007, Chief of Safety, 301st Fighter Wing, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
12. September 2007–August 2009, Director of Operations, 457th Fighter Squadron, NAS JRB FW, Texas
13. October 2009–October 2012, Commander, 944th Operations Group, Luke AFB, Ariz
14. October 2012–September 2015, Deputy IG, Chief, Plans & Execution Division & Team Chief, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Inspector General, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
15. September 2015–September 2018, Commander, 482nd Fighter Wing, Homestead ARB, Fla.
16. September 2018–October 2019, Mobilization Assistant, Plans, Programs, Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, JB Langley-Eustis, Va.
17. October 2019–May 2021, Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
18. June 2021–July 2023, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany
19. July 2023–March 2025, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Education and Training Command, JB San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.
20. March 2025–Present, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space) and Commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,800, including 506 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Gallant Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and seven oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with one oak leaf cluster
(Current as of April 2025)