Brig. Gen. James McFarland is the Director of Plans and Programs, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. As Director, he leads theater engagement throughout Europe and Africa by managing unit basing, organization and force structure. He is responsible for developing and directing the command's resource capability processes, doctrine review, strategy initiatives, and political military affairs program. He is also responsible for command transformation, implementing U.S. and NATO strategy and ensuring arms control treaty obligations are met.
Brig. Gen. McFarland entered the Air Force upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1999. He is a Distinguished Graduate of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Squadron Officer School, and Air Command and Staff College. He is also a graduate of and former instructor at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and a graduate of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and the Eisenhower School.
He has served in various operational and staff positions across U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve. Brig. Gen. McFarland has commanded at the squadron, group and vice wing levels. He also commanded an air operations center. Brig. Gen. McFarland is a command pilot with more than 2,300 flight hours in various fighter aircraft.
Prior to his current assignment, the general served as the Senior Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2010 Master of Science, Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master of Philosophy, Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2021 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1999–December 2000, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. January 2001–November 2001, Student, F-15C Formal Training Unit, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
3. December 2001–August 2004, F-15C Instructor and Assistant Chief of Wing Weapons, 60th FS and 33rd Operations Support Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
4. September 2004–May 2007, F-15C Instructor and Weapons Officer, 67th FS, Kadena Air Base, Japan
5. June 2007–June 2010, USAF Weapons School F-15C Instructor, 433rd Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. February 2009–June 2009, Special Projects Officer to the Combined Force Air Component Commander, Air Force Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
7. July 2010–June 2011, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 2011–June 2012, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. July 2012–June 2013, Chief of Strategy and Plans, 611th Air and Space Operations Center, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
10. July 2013–June 2015, Director of Operations, 44th FS, Kadena AB, Japan
11. July 2015–August 2016, Commander, 67th FS, Kadena AB, Japan
12. August 2016–July 2017, Deputy Commander, 18th Operations Group, Kadena AB, Japan
13. August 2017–June 2018, Student, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2018–January 2019, Chief of Current Operations, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, Union III, Baghdad, Iraq
15. January 2019–August 2019, Chief of Staff, Joint Operations Command-Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, Union III, Baghdad, Iraq
16. August 2019–July 2022, Vice Commander, 33rd FW, (December 2021–June 2022, Commander, 33rd Maintenance Group), Eglin AFB, Fla.
17. August 2022–June 2024, Commander, 613th Air Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
18. July 2024–July 2025, Senior Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. August 2025–present, Director, Plans and Programs for Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,300
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-15 A-D, F-35A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
CJTF-OIR Campaign Medal with campaign star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
(Current as of December 2025)