David L. Goldfein

Lt. Gen. David L. Goldfein is Director of the Joint Staff of the U.S. Department of Defense, the body who assists the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was previously Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Southwest Asia. Goldfein received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1983. He has commanded the 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.; 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; 366th Operations Group, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; and the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy. General Goldfein is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. He deployed to Southwest Asia for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and to the Vicenza Combined Air Operations Center for Operation Deliberate Force. As commander of the Triple Nickel, he led his squadron in Operation Allied Force. His previous assignments include, Deputy Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and Director of Operations, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.

The general is a command pilot with more than 4,100 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, F-16C/D, F-117A and MQ-9.

Education
1983 Bachelor of Science degree in philosophy, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 1986 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence 1987 Master's degree in business administration, Oklahoma City University, Okla. 1992 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev. 1995 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1998 Air War College, by correspondence 2001 National Defense Fellowship, State Department Senior Seminar, Arlington, Va.