Brig. Gen. John A. Cherrey is Director of Intelligence, Operations and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. He is responsible for developing policies and programming resources for Air Force technical and aircrew training programs. This includes undergraduate flying and initial skills training for active, Reserve and Guard personnel, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, enlisted accessions, initial training and non-rated supplemental training. Along with formulating training policy, he maintains the ability to respond to contingency and expeditionary requirements for the command. His team also integrates nuclear education and training throughout Air Force schools.
General Cherrey received his commission from the ROTC program in 1988. After earning his wings at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, he has flown the A-10A/C Thunderbolt II as an instructor pilot, evaluator, weapons officer and operational test and evaluation pilot. He’s been a staff officer on the Air Staff working fighter aircraft requirements and capabilities requirements and a "SkunkWorks" Division Chief leading the development of Air Force operational strategy.
General Cherrey is a command pilot with more than 4,100 hours in the T-37, T-38, T-6 and A-10A/C. He has experience flying contingency and combat sorties over Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He also has combat experience as a weapons officer, director of operations and both squadron and group commander. In 2015, he deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve as the Director, Joint Air Component Coordination Element to both Combined Joint Task Force and Coalition Forces Land Component Command-Iraq and later, Deputy Commanding General CFLCC-Iraq.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor's Degree (with honors) in Engineering Physics: Applied Lasers and Optics, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, N.J.
1992 Joint Air Ground Operations Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1996 U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2001 U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2001 Master’s degree in Business Administration, University of Phoenix, Ariz.
2007 National War College, Fort Lesley J. .McNair, Washington, D.C.
2007 Master’s degree in National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington, D.C.
2016 Joint Force Air Component Commander’s Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1989 - March 1990, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2. March 1990 - June 1990, Student, Lead in Fighter Training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3. July 1990 - September 1990, Student, A-10 Replacement Training Unit, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
4. October 1990 - April 1992, A-10 Pilot, 74th Tactical Fighter Squadron, England AFB, La.
5. May 1992 - September 1993, OA-10 Pilot and Training Officer, 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea
6. October 1993 - May 1994, Assistant Chief, Group Standardization and Evaluation, 51st Operations Group Osan AB, South Korea
7. May 1994 - June 1994, Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 1994 - March 1997, Project Manager and A-10 Operational Test and Evaluation Pilot, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. July 1996 - December 1996, Student, USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. April 1997 - May 2000, Assistant Director of Operations, Flight Commander, and Weapons Officer, 81st Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
11. June 2000 - June 2001, Student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
12. June 2001 - April 2003, Fighter Branch Chief and A-10 Program Element Monitor, Directorate of Operational Capabilities Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air and Space Operations, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. April 2003 - June 2006, Deputy Group Commander, 52nd Operations Group; Commander and Director of Operations, 81st Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
14. August 2006 - June 2007, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
15. June 2007 - May 2009, Director, AF Element at U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
16. June 2009 - June 2010, Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Group, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
17. Jun 2010 - June 2012, Commander, 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
18. June 2012 - July 2013, Chief, Concepts, Strategy and Wargaming, Directorate of Operations, Plans and Requirements, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. July 2013 - October 2014, Deputy Director of Intelligence, Operations, and Nuclear Integration for Flying Training, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, JB San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
20. October 2014 – November 2017, Director of Intelligence, Operations and Nuclear Integration. Headquarters AETC, JB San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,100
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-37, T-38, A-10A/C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with silver and four bronze oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with silver and four bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Combat Action Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device
Operation Inherent Resolve (Iraq) Campaign Medal
Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal with three devices
Korean Defense Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999 USAFE Commander's Fighter Aviator of the Year
1999 Co-Winner, Jolly Green Association, Rescue Mission of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Oct. 15, 1988
First Lieutenant Oct. 15, 1990
Captain Oct. 15, 1992
Major March 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2003
Colonel Sept. 1, 2007
Brigadier General Nov. 15, 2013
(Current as of September 2017)