GENERAL KEVIN P. CHILTON

Gen. Kevin P. Chilton is Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. He is responsible for the plans and operations for all U.S. forces conducting strategic deterrence and Department of Defense space and cyberspace operations.

General Chilton is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Columbia University Guggenheim Fellow.  A distinguished graduate from the U.S. Air Force pilot training and test pilot Schools, he flew operational assignments in the RF-4C and F-15 and weapons testing in the F-4 and F-15. The general also served 11 years at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and commanded STS-76, his third space shuttle mission.

The general has commanded at the wing, numbered air force, major command and unified combatant command levels.

EDUCATION
1976 Distinguished graduate, Bachelor of Science degree in engineering science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1977 Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
1982 Distinguished graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1984 Distinguished graduate, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
1985 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2001 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1977 – May 1978, student, undergraduate pilot training, Williams AFB, Ariz.
2. May 1978 – August 1978, student, RF-4C Replacement Training Unit, Shaw AFB, S.C.
3. August 1978 – November 1980, RF-4C pilot and instructor pilot, 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
4. November 1980 – August 1982, F-15C pilot, 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
5. August 1982 – October 1982, student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. October 1982 – December 1983, F-15A pilot, instructor pilot and flight commander, 9th and 7th tactical fighter squadrons, Holloman AFB, N.M.
7. January 1984 – December 1984, student, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
8. January 1985 – August 1987, test pilot and operations officer, 3247th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
9. August 1987 – August 1988, astronaut candidate, NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
10. August 1988 – May 1996, astronaut, NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
11. May 1996 – August 1998, Deputy Program Manager of Operations, International Space Station Program, NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
12. August 1998 – May 1999, Deputy Director of Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
13. May 1999 – September 2000, Commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.
14. October 2000 – April 2002, Director of Politico-Military Affairs, Asia-Pacific and Middle East, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. April 2002 – August 2004, Director of Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
16. August 2004 – August 2005, acting Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
17. August 2005 – June 2006, Commander, 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, La., and Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
18. June 2006 – September 2007, Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
19. October 2007 – present, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2000 – April 2002, Director of Politico-Military Affairs, Asia-Pacific and Middle East, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a brigadier and major general
2. October 2007 – present, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a general

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command astronaut pilot
Flight hours: More than 5,000
Aircraft flown: F-4C/D/E, F-15A/B/C/D, OV-104A and OV-105A (space shuttles Atlantis and Endeavour), RF-4C, T-38, U-2 and VC-11, B-52H

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
NASA Space Flight Medal with two oak leaf clusters
NASA Exceptional Service Medal
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Guggenheim Fellow
Commander’s Trophy, Undergraduate Pilot Training
1982 Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award
1984 Liethen-Tittle Award for top graduate, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1976
First Lieutenant June 2, 1978
Captain June 2, 1980
Major May 2, 1985
Lieutenant Colonel June 2, 1989
Colonel Jan. 1, 1993
Brigadier General May 1, 1999
Major General April 1, 2002
Lieutenant General Aug. 9, 2005
General June 26, 2006

(Current as of August 2010)