Brig. Gen. Denny R. Davies is the Commander, 86th Airlift Wing and Installation Commander, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. As the installation host, the 86 AW supports the headquarters for U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Third Air Force, three tenant wings, and more than 120 mission partners, to include the integration of and caring for the greater Kaiserslautern Military Community and its 56,000 U.S. service members and families. He leads a wing composed of seven groups and 30 squadrons across four bases in Germany, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal. The 86 AW’s mission is to Project Power and Enable the Global Gateway. The wing provides agile worldwide tactical and DV airlift, sustainment, munitions, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities while executing superior Base Operating Support-Integrator & medical care responsibilities.
Brig. Gen. Davies earned his commission through the United States Air Force Academy in 2001. He served in U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Pacific Air Forces, Air Mobility Command, Headquarters Air Force, U.S. Pacific Command, and the Joint Staff. Brig. Gen. Davies is a command pilot, former instructor in two Major Weapons Systems, and former squadron, vice wing, and wing commander. He deployed to Southwest Asia seven times, flying 1177 combat hours in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science in Management, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Master of Arts with emphasis in International Relations, University of Oklahoma, Okla. 2010 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Washington, D.C. 2020 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2021 Air War College, Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 National Defense Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Calif.
2022 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2001–May 2002, Executive Officer, 91st Air Refueling Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
2. May 2002–January 2003, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Moody AFB, Ga.
3. January 2003–July 2003, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Texas
4. July 2003–March 2004, Student, C-130 Initial Qualification Training, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
5. March 2004–March 2008, C-130E Instructor Pilot and Wing Current Operations Officer, 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
6. March 2008–July 2011, C-130J Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, and Chief, Wing Commander’s Action Group, 41st Airlift Squadron and 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
7. July 2011–July 2012, Chief, Mobility and Bomber Colonel Assignments, Air Force Colonels’ Group, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. July 2012–June 2013, IDE Student, National Intelligence University, Defense Intelligence Agency, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
9. June 2013–June 2016, Joint Staff Program Manager, Executive Assistant to Vice Director J-7, and Executive Assistant to Director J-7, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. June 2016–May 2018, Commander, 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
11. May 2018–July 2020, Deputy Executive Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
12. July 2020–July 2021, National Defense Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Calif.
13. July 2021–May 2023, Vice Commander, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
14. June 2023–July 2025, Commander, 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
16. October 2024–January 2025, Commander, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ali Al Salem, Kuwait
17. July 2025–June 2026, Deputy Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence, and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
18. June 2026–present, Commander, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2013–June 2016, Joint Staff Program Manager, Executive Assistant to Vice Director J-7, and Executive Assistant to Director J-7, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a major
2. May 2018–July 2020, Deputy Executive Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,700 hours
Aircraft flown: T-6A, TC-12, C-130E/H, C-130J, and C-37A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 2001
First Lieutenant May 30, 2003
Captain May 30, 2005
Major February 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel January 1, 2016
Colonel February 1, 2021
Brigadier General Frocked
(Current as of August 2026)