Maj. Gen. Stephen C. Williams is the Special Assistant to the Commander, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Williams supports and advises the Commander of Air Combat Command. Operating more than 1,000 aircraft, 35 wings, 12 bases, and 1,336 units at more than 242 operating locations worldwide with 156,739 total force military and civilian personnel, Air Combat Command provides conventional and information warfare forces to all unified commands to ensure air, space, cyber, and information superiority for warfighters and national decision-makers.
Maj. Gen. Williams earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1989 where he was the top graduate in engineering mechanics. He attended pilot training and was a distinguished graduate at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. A career F-16 pilot, Maj. Gen. Williams commanded operational units at the squadron and wing levels. While deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom he earned the 2007 McKay Trophy for the most meritorious sortie of the year. Maj. Gen. Williams also served as Director of Defense Cybersecurity in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the Pentagon, Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, and Director of Air and Cyberspace Operations, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. Prior to assuming his current position, Maj. Gen. Williams served as the Chief of Staff, United States Forces Korea, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea.
Maj. Gen. Williams is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, including more than 260 combat hours earned during operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science, Engineering Mechanics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1996 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
1997 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2003 Master of Science, Aerospace Technology, Embry Riddle University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2003 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2004 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2008 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 AFSO 21 Senior Course, Osan Air Base, South Korea
2012 Air Component Command’s Senior Leaders Maintenance Course, Langley AFB, Va.
2012 U.S. Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar Logistical Information, Charlottesville, Va.
2014 Senior Leader Officer Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2017 Joint Forces Air Component Commanders Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2017 Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Middle East and South Asia Course, Washington, D.C.
2018 Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander’s Course, Newport, R.I.
2020 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Warrenton, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1989–July 1990, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. August 1990–May 1991, Student, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, MacDill AFB, Fla.
3. June 1991–October 1992, F-16 Flight Lead, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
4. October 1992–December 1995, Electronic Combat Officer, F-16 Instructor, 421st FS and 388th Operations Support Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
5. December 1995–June 1998, Weapons Officer, F-16 Weapons Instructor and Flight Examiner, 522nd FS, Cannon AFB, N.M.
6. June 1998–June 2001, Flight Commander, F-16 Weapons Instructor and Flight Examiner, F-16 Division, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. June 2001–June 2003, Fighter/Weapons Program Analyst and Executive Officer for the Director of Plans and Programs, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
8. June 2003–June 2004, Student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
9. July 2004–September 2004, Student, F-16 Re-Qualification Training, 182nd FS, Air National Guard, Kelly AFB, Texas
10.September 2004–May 2005, Chief of Advanced Programs, 35th Operations Group, Misawa AB, Japan
11.May 2005–May 2006, Operations Officer, 14th FS, Misawa AB, Japan
12.May 2006–May 2008, Commander, 13th FS, Misawa AB, Japan
13.June 2008–June 2009, Executive Officer for the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
14.June 2009–June 2011, Assistant Director for Cyber Planning, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15.June 2011–June 2012, Vice Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, South Korea
16.September 2012–June 2014, Commander, 35th FW, Misawa AB, Japan
17.July 2014–March 2017, Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
18.March 2017–January 2019, Director of Air and Cyberspace Operations, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
19. January 2019–February 2021, Chief of Staff, United States Forces Korea, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea
20. March 2021–present, Special Assistant to the Commander, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2009–June 2011, Assistant Director for Cyber Planning, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
2. January 2019–February 2021, Chief of Staff, United States Forces Korea, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea, as a major general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,000
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16 Blks 30/40/50 and T-53
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 1989
First Lieutenant May 31, 1991
Captain May 31, 1993
Major Aug. 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 1, 2005
Colonel Oct. 1, 2009
Brigadier General Dec. 19, 2014
Major General Aug. 3, 2018
(Current as of September 2021)