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Kevin Schneider

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Kevin Schneider
Official portrait, 2024
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1988–present
RankGeneral
Commands held
Battles/warsIraq War
Awards

Kevin Bruce Schneider[1] is a United States Air Force general who has served as the commander of the Pacific Air Forces since 2024. He previously served as director of staff of the United States Air Force from 2021 to 2024.[2] He also served as the commander of the United States Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force.[3]

Air Force career

[edit]
Schneider with United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at Yokota Air Force Base, March 17, 2021.

Kevin Schneider was raised in Springfield, Virginia, and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988 with a degree in engineering science.[4] He attended Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, and graduated in 1999. He attended F-16 Fighting Falcon training at MacDill Air Force Base, and was stationed at Osan Air Base and Misawa Air Base. In 1996, he graduated from the USAF Weapons School. He was then stationed at Shaw Air Force Base and as a Weapons School instructor at Nellis Air Force Base. He served as the aide-de-camp for then-Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Michael E. Ryan.[2][5] He served as chief of the 52nd Fighter Wing Weapons and Tactics at Spangdahlem Air Base, and commanded the 80th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan Air Base. He attended the Marine Corps War College, and served as the deputy commander of the 56th Operations Group and as vice commander of the 388th Fighter Wing. He commanded the 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base, and the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra Air Base. He then served as the chief of staff of the Pacific Air Forces and Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters in Hawaii. In February 2019, he assumed command of Fifth Air Force and United States Forces Japan.[2][6][7]

Schneider piloting a Lockheed-Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.

In July 2021, he was nominated and confirmed to succeed Timothy Fay as Director of Staff of the United States Air Force. He assumed the position on September 8, 2021.[8][9]

In April 2023, Schneider was nominated for promotion to general and assignment as commander of the Pacific Air Forces.[10][11]

Awards and decorations

[edit]
Schneider (center right, holding flag) assumes command of Pacific Air Forces on February 9, 2024.
US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Headquarters Air Force Badge
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges.
 Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Silver oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.
 Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (second ribbon to denote fifth award)
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Bronze star
 Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze star
 Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star
Air Force Training Ribbon
Order of the Rising Sun, Grand Cordon (Japan)[12]

Effective dates of promotions

[edit]
Insignia Rank Date
General February 9, 2024
Lieutenant general February 5, 2019
Major general November 2, 2015
Brigadier general June 2, 2013
Colonel September 1, 2007
Lieutenant colonel February 1, 2003
Major August 1, 1998
Captain June 1, 1992
First lieutenant June 1, 1990
Second lieutenant June 1, 1988

[2]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kevin B. Schneider.
  1. ^ Polaris (PDF). Vol. XXVII. Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1985. p. 521. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Lieutenant General Kevin B. Schneider (USAF)". United States Air Force. May 14, 2021. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ "U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force Change of Command". Facebook. August 26, 2021.
  4. ^ Polaris (PDF). Vol. XXX. Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1988. p. 184. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  5. ^ "General Michael E. Ryan". Biographies. US Air Force. September 2001. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  6. ^ Schneider, Kevin (February 5, 2019). "Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Schneider, U.S. Forces Japan & 5th Air Force Change of Command Speech As Delivered". United States Forces Japan. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  7. ^ Carlson, Derek (February 5, 2019). "Lt. Gen. Schneider Takes Command of U.S. Military in Japan". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  8. ^ "PN810 — Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Schneider — Air Force". U.S. Congress. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  9. ^ McCullouch, Amy (July 14, 2021). "Biden Nominates First Commander for Space Systems Command, New Boss at AMC". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "PN535 — Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Schneider — Air Force". U.S. Congress. April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  11. ^ "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense.
  12. ^ "U.S. Forces Japan (在日米軍司令部) on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022.[user-generated source]
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing
2013–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Assistant Deputy Commander of the United States Air Forces Central Command
2014–2015 		Succeeded by
???
Preceded by
???
 Chief of Staff of the Pacific Air Forces
2015–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas Chief of Staff of the United States Pacific Command Chief of Staff of the United States Indo-Pacific Command
2016–2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of United States Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force
2019–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of Staff of the United States Air Force
2021–2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Pacific Air Forces
2024–present 		Incumbent
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