Maj. Gen. Russell D. Driggers serves as the Chief of Staff, United States European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. In this role, he is the principal staff officer responsible for synchronizing and integrating the efforts of the USEUCOM Joint Staff, managing the headquarters' daily operations, and ensuring effective coordination across the command's directorates to support the Commander's strategic objectives throughout the European theater.

Maj. Gen. Driggers received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1995. He served in staff positions at the MAJCOM level, with the United States Mission to NATO, and at the combatant command level; he has commanded at the squadron and twice at the wing levels. His combat experience includes F-15C combat missions in support of Operation Allied Force and service as an air advisor in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Prior to his current assignment, Maj. Gen. Driggers served as the Director of Plans, Policy, Strategy and Capabilities (ECJ5), Headquarters United States European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, where he was responsible to the Commander, United States European Command to formulate and execute military strategy and policy, deliberate planning, and security cooperation for command activities involving other U.S. Unified Commands, allied and partner military organizations and subordinate commands within the USEUCOM area of responsibility.

EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1996 Master of Arts, Political Science, Texas A&M University, College Station
2007 U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2008 Master of Arts, U.S. Army Advanced Military Studies Program, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of Science, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2014 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Washington, D.C.
2022 Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2025 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2025 Advanced Senior Leader Development Program, Washington, D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1996–January 1998, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. January 1998–July 1998, Student, F-15C Qualification Course, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
3. July 1998–January 2001, F-15C Pilot, 493rd FS, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom (February 1999–May 1999, F-15C Pilot, 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Cervia Air Base, Italy)
4. January 2001–March 2004, F-15C Evaluator, Flight Commander, 95th FS, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
5. April 2004–December 2006, T-38A/C Instructor, Assistant Operations Officer, 90th Flying Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
6. January 2007–December 2007, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
7. January 2008–January 2009, Advanced Military Studies Program, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
8. February 2009–February 2011, Chief Strategy and Doctrine, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany (September 2009–March 2010, 10th Air Force Air Advisor, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing, Camp Victory, Iraq)
9. March 2011–May 2013, Commander, 560th FTS, Randolph AFB, Texas
10. June 2013–June 2014, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. July 2014–June 2015, Vice Commander, 501st Combat Support Wing, RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom
12. July 2015–July 2018, Senior Military Advisor, U.S. Mission to NATO, Brussels, Belgium
13. July 2018–June 2020, Commander, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
14. June 2020–June 2021, Deputy Commander, NATO Mission Iraq, Forward Operating Base Union III, Baghdad, Iraq
15. July 2021–April 2022, Director, Air, Space and Cyberspace Operations, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
16. May 2022–July 2024, Commander, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
17. August 2024–February 2026, Director of Plans, Policy, Strategy and Capabilities (ECJ5), Headquarters U.S. European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany
18. March 2026–present, Chief of Staff, United States European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2015–July 2018, Senior Military Advisor, U.S. Mission to NATO, Brussels, Belgium, as a colonel
2. June 2020–June 2021, Deputy Commander, NATO Mission Iraq, Forward Operating Base Union III, Baghdad, Iraq, as a brigadier general
3. August 2024–February 2026, Director of Plans, Policy, Strategy and Capabilities (ECJ5), Headquarters U.S. European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, as a major general
4. March 2026–present, Chief of Staff, United States European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, as a major general

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating:  command pilot
Flight hours:  more than 2,300, including 205 combat hours
Aircraft flown:  F-15C/D and T-38A/C

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and "C" device
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

(Current as of March 2026)