Brig. Gen. Otis C. Jones holds the dual role of Department of the Air Force Chief of Safety, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia, and Commander, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He is responsible for safeguarding Airmen and Guardians and ensuring the preservation of combat power through the development, implementation and evaluation of comprehensive aviation, space, weapons and occupational safety initiatives. Additionally, he directs research to promote safety awareness and mishap prevention, oversees mishap investigations, evaluates corrective actions and ensures implementation. Finally, he manages, develops and directs all safety and risk management courses.

Brig. Gen. Jones graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1995. He has served as an Examiner Pilot in the C-130E Hercules and C-17A Globemaster III. He has commanded units stateside and overseas at the squadron, group and wing levels and has served in multiple staff positions. Brig. Gen. Jones has flown numerous combat sorties supporting Operations Southern Watch, Joint Guard, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as well as worldwide missions delivering humanitarian aid and vital supplies.

Prior to his current position, the general was the Chief of Staff at Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, responsible for developing and implementing strategic policies, plans and programs, directing organizational management and force sustainment across 104 countries in support of U.S. European and African commands.

EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Master of Business Administration and Management, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.
2007 Master of Military Arts and Science, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2012 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Senior Manager Course in National Security Leadership, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2021 Middle East and South Asia Domestic Divisions and Regional Conflicts, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2022 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1995–December 1995, Assistant Intercollegiate Athletics Program Manager, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2. December 1995–July 1996, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
3. July 1996–February 1997, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Texas
4. February 1997–December 2001, C-130E Instructor Pilot, Assistant Flight Commander, Pilot Scheduler, Training Officer, and Standardization and Evaluation Liaison Officer, 2nd Airlift Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
5. December 2001–September 2003, C-130E Formal Training Unit Flight Examiner Pilot, Flight Commander, Group Executive Officer, 62nd Airlift Squadron, 314th Operations Group, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
6. September 2003–May 2006, C-17A Examiner Pilot, Flight Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, Detachment Commander, 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
7. May 2006–July 2007, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
8. July 2007–June 2008, Chief, Airlift Capabilities Branch, Global Reach Directorate, Headquarters United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. June 2008–May 2010, Chief, Tactical Airlift Branch, Global Reach Directorate, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. May 2010–June 2011, Executive Officer to the Director, Operational Planning, Policy and Strategy, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. June 2011–May 2013, Commander, 726th Air Mobility Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
12. June 2013–July 2014, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
13. July 2014–June 2015, Student, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. June 2015–June 2016, Chief, Homeland Defense Policy Branch, Strategy, Policy and Plans Directorate, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
15. June 2016–June 2017, Chief, Mobility Division, Logistics and Engineering Directorate, NORAD and USNORTHCOM, Peterson AFB, Colo.
16. July 2017–July 2018, Commander, 19th Operations Group, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
17. July 2018–June 2020, Commander, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota AB, Japan
18. June 2020–July 2022, Vice Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
19. July 2022–May 2024, Commander, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
20. May 2024–August 2025, Chief of Staff, Headquarters USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein AB, Germany
21. August 2025–present, Department of the Air Force Chief of Safety, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., and Commander, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2015–June 2016, Chief, Homeland Defense Policy Branch, Strategy, Policy and Doctrine Division, Strategy, Policy and Plans Directorate, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., as a lieutenant colonel
2. June 2016–June 2017, Chief, Mobility Division, Logistics and Engineering Directorate, NORAD and USNORTHCOM, Peterson AFB, Colo., as a colonel

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating:  command pilot
Flight hours:  more than 3,200, including more than 260 combat hours
Aircraft flown:  T-37B, T-44A, C-130E, C-17A, C-130J, C-12J

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with “V” device with silver oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
Japan Defense Cooperation Medal with oak leaf cluster

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1997, 1998, 2000 All-Air Force Men’s Basketball Team (Gold Medalist)
1997, 1998 All-Armed Forces Men’s Basketball Team (Gold Medalist)
2019 Department of State Meritorious Honor Award
2019 Honorary Doctor of Public Service, University of Maryland University College
2020 Pacific Air Forces General and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award
2020 The Emperor of Japan Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
2021 United States Air Force Academy Athletic Hall of Fame

(Current as of August 2025)