James B. Hecker
General, U.S. Air Force

James B. Hecker was commissioned in the Air Force in 1989 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.

Hecker has been both a graduate and instructor at the U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course. While working as the Director of Operations, Operations Directorate (J3), U.S. Forces Japan, Yokota AB, Japan, he was responsible for coordinating both civilian and military disaster relief and humanitarian assistance during Operation Tomodachi, in response to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. He has also worked as a Military Legislative Assistant for Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott in Washington, DC, and has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels. Prior to his current assignment, he was Commander, 19th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, TX.

Major General Hecker is currently Commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan; Commander, NATO Air Command-Afghanistan; Director, AFCENT's Air Component Coordination Element for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan and support of NATO's Operation Resolute Support; and Deputy Commander-Air for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan. He is responsible for the integration of air and space power in support of NATO’s Operation Resolute Support. Maj Gen Hecker oversees two air expeditionary wings, two air expeditionary groups, two aerial ports of debarkation, and is responsible for supporting and coordinating development of the Afghan Air Force.

Assignments

1. October 1989 - November 1990, Student, undergraduate pilot training, Sheppard AFB, TX
2. January 1991 - March 1991, Student, AT-38 lead-in fighter training, Holloman AFB, NM
3. March 1991 - August 1991, Student, F-15 replacement training, Tyndall AFB, FL
4. August 1991 - May 1992, F-15C Pilot; 8th and 9th Tactical Fighter Squadrons, Holloman AFB, NM
5. June 1992 - December 1995, Instructor Pilot, Flight Examiner and Chief, F-15C Standardization and Evaluation, Mountain Home AFB, ID
6. January 1996 - June 1996, Student, F-15C Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV
7. July 1996 - August 1998, Weapons Officer, 44th FS, Kadena AB, Japan
8. September 1998 - July 2000, Instructor Pilot, F-15C Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV
9. August 2000 - September 2001, Senate Liaison Officer, Office of Legislative Liaison, Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, DC
10. October 2001 - October 2002, Capitol Hill Fellowship Program, the Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
11. November 2002 - June 2003, Assistant Director of Operations, 94th FS, Langley AFB, VA
12. July 2003 - September 2004, Director of Operations, 27th FS, Langley AFB, VA
13. October 2004 - May 2006, Commander, 27th FS, Langley AFB, VA
14. July 2006 - May 2007, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
15. July 2007 - July 2009, Commander, 3rd OG, Elmendorf AFB, AK
16. July 2009 - June 2011, Director of Operations, Operations Directorate (J3), U.S. Forces Japan, Yokota AB, Japan
17. June 2011 - May 2013, Commander, 432nd Wing, 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Creech AFB, NV
18. May 2013 - April 2015, Commander, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
19. April 2015 - June 2015, Director of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA.
20. June 2015 – April 2017, Commander, 19th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph, TX
21. April 2017 – present, Commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan; Commander, NATO Air Command-Afghanistan; Director, AFCENT's Air Component Coordination Element for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan and support of NATO's Operation Resolute Support; and Deputy Commander-Air for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan

Joint Assignments

1. July 2009 - June 2011, Director of Operations, Operations Directorate (J3), U.S. Forces Japan, Yokota AB, Japan, as a colonel
2. April 2017 – present, Commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan; Commander, NATO Air Command-Afghanistan; Director, AFCENT's Air Component Coordination Element for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan and support of NATO's Operation Resolute Support; and Deputy Commander-Air for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan as a major general.

Education

1989 Bachelor of Science degree, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
1996 U.S. Air Force F-15C Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV
1999 Master of Science in Aeronautical Sciences, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2002 Congressional Legislative Fellow, Washington, DC
2007 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2007 Master of Science in Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009 National Security Studies Program, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, Washington, DC

Flight Information

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,300
Aircraft flown: F-15 A/B/C/D, F-22, MQ-1B, T-38, T-37, HH-60

Medals, Awards & Badges

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
AF Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
AF Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
AF Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
AF Longevity Service Award with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
AF Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
AF Training Ribbon
NATO Medal (Kosovo)
Command Pilot Badge
Headquarters Air Force Badge

Effective Dates of Promotions

Second Lieutenant: 31 May 1989
First Lieutenant: 31 May 1991
Captain: 31 May 1993
Major: 1 July 1999
Lieutenant Colonel: 1 March 2002
Colonel: 1 January 2007
Brigadier General: 2 August 2013
Major General: 3 May 2016

(Information current as of April 2017)