Brig. Gen. John Gallemore is the Commander, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 18th Wing is the largest combat wing in the U.S. Air Force providing the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, trained and equipped tactical air superiority forces; combat search and rescue forces; command and control platforms; aeromedical evacuation capability; and global mobility resources for contingency operations. The wing flies the F-15EX, KC-135, HH-60W, MQ-9, and E-3 aircraft. Additionally, the wing provides the Fifth Air Force Commander a responsive, staging and operational air base with integrated, deployable, forward-based airpower.
Brig. Gen. Gallemore holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business from Texas A&M University. He has commanded at the Fighter Wing, Operations Group, and Fighter Squadron levels, as well as served in a variety of leadership positions including Operations Officer, Instructor, Evaluator and Thunderbird pilot. Brig. Gen. Gallemore’s operational experiences include Operations Iraqi Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel, Atlantic Resolve and Inherent Resolve. He is a command pilot with more than 4,600 flying hours in the F-16, F-15C/E/EX, T-38 and T-37.
Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Gallemore served as the Inspector General, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Agriculture Business, Texas A&M University, College Station
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Master of Business Administration, International Business, Trident University International, Ariz.
2013 Master of Military Strategy, U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University, Quantico, Va.
2017 Master of Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, National Defense University, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1999–July 1999, Student, Air Traffic Control Officer School, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2. August 1999–September 2000, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. September 2000–January 2001, Student, Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
4. January 2001–December 2003, Flight Commander, Instructor and Evaluator Pilot, 37th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss.
5. January 2004–February 2004, Student, Introductory to Fighter Fundamentals, 49th FTS, Moody AFB, Ga.
6. March 2004–February 2005, Student, F-16C Initial Qualification Training, 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
7. February 2005–October 2007, Flight Commander and Instructor Pilot, 522nd FS, Cannon AFB, N.M.
8. October 2007–November 2009, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 388th Operations Group, Hill AFB, Utah
9. November 2009–January 2012, Thunderbird 3 and Right Wing, U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. February 2012–June 2012, Assistant Director of Operations, 414th Combat Training Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
11. July 2012–June 2013, Student, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va.
12. November 2013–May 2015, Operations Officer, 480th FS, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
13. June 2015–June 2016, Commander, 80th FS, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
14. July 2016–June 2017, Student, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, National Defense University, Norfolk, Va.
15. June 2017–March 2018, Director of the Special Activities Division, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
16. March 2018–June 2019, Deputy Executive Officer to the Commanding General, USCENTCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla.
17. July 2019–March 2020, Commander, 57th Adversary Tactics Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
18. April 2020–April 2021, Commander, 57th Operations Groups, Nellis AFB, Nev.
19. May 2021–May 2022, Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, South Korea
20. June 2022–January 2024, Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Strategic Execution Group, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. January 2024–June 2025, Inspector General, Air Combat Command Inspector General, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
22. July 2025–present, Commander, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2017–March 2018, Director of the Special Activities Division, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
2. April 2018–June 2019, Deputy Executive Officer to the Commanding General, USCENTCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,600
Primary aircraft flown: T-37, T/AT-38, F-16C/D, F-15C/E/EX
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
(Current as of September 2026)