Brig. Gen. Jack R. Arthaud is the Deputy Commander, 15th Air Force, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. As an institutional, service-retained operational headquarters, 15th AF optimizes the overall readiness of conventional Combat Air Forces and presents units to combatant commanders for employment. Additionally, 15th AF commands 17 wings and two direct reporting units in the U.S., ensuring that over 850 aircraft and associated personnel are prepared, generated and sustained according to Air Force priorities and operational requirements.
Brig. Gen. Arthaud graduated from Whitworth College with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and was commissioned through the Officer Training School in 1999. He is a 2017 National Security Fellow of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a 2019 Seminar XXI graduate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Brig. Gen. Arthaud is a combat pilot with more than 2,200 flying hours in 19 aircraft. He has flown combat missions in Operation Southern Watch, deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom and led Operation Noble Eagle homeland defense missions. Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Arthaud was the Commander of the 48th Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, where he was responsible for four combat fighter squadrons, nearly 7,000 active-duty personnel, British and U.S. civilians, and 11,000 family members.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, Whitworth College, Spokane, Wash.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Master of Military Operational Arts and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Command General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2013 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 National Security Fellow, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2019 Seminar XXI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
2019 Enterprise Leadership, Kenan– Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1999–May 2001, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. June 2001–April 2002, Student, F-15C Pilot Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
3. May 2002–April 2005, 18th Wing ECP Assistant Chief of Weapons, Kadena Air Base, Japan
4. May 2005–June 2006, Flight Commander and F-15C Evaluator Pilot, Eglin AFB, Fla.
5. July 2006–December 2006, Student, U.S. Air Force F-15C Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. December 2006–December 2007, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Eglin AFB, Fla.
7. January 2008–June 2011, U.S. Air Force Weapons School Instructor, Nellis AFB, Nev. (April 2009–November 2009, Chief of Training Analysis USFOR-AJ-7, NKC, Kabul, Afghanistan)
8. July 2011–June 2012, Student, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
9. July 2012–June 2013, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. September 2013–June 2014, Director of Operations, 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
11. June 2014–May 2016, Commander, 18th Operations Support Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
12. July 2016–June 2017, National Security Fellow, John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
13. June 2017–June 2019, Senior Air Strategy Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Strategy and Force Development, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. June 2019–June 2021, Commandant, United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
15. July 2021–June 2023, Commander, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
16. July 2023–June 2024, Deputy Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration at USAFE–AFAFRICA, Ramstein AB, Germany
17. June 2024–July 2026, Commander, 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, and United States Country Representative, United Kingdom
18. July 2026–present, Deputy Commander, 15th Air Force, Shaw AFB, S.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2017–June 2019, Senior Air Strategy Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Strategy and Force Development, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,275
Aircraft flown: F-15A/C/D, F-35A, T-37, T-38A, AT-38B, F-16D, E-3B, AC-130J, C-130J, HC-130J, HH-60G, MQ-9, U-28, CV-22, B-2, B-1, B-52, C-17 and KC-135
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
(Current as of July 2026)