Chad P. Franks
Major General, U.S. Air Force

Chad P. Franks was born in Baton Rouge, LA, and raised in New Orleans, LA. He entered the Air Force in 1990 after graduating from the Air Force ROTC program at the University of New Orleans.

Franks has served in a variety of flying positions during assignments in Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Education and Training Command and Air Combat Command. He also served as Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Forces Central Command. He has deployed in support of Operations Provide Comfort, Northern Watch, Allied Force and Iraqi Freedom.

Colonel Franks commanded the 23d Wing at Moody Air Force Base, GA. The 23d Wing consists of six groups and one detachment with more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel at four locations throughout the continental U.S. The wing has units at Moody Air Force Base, GA; Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ; Nellis AFB, NV; and Avon Park Air Force Range, FL. Moody is the home of the Air Force's legendary "Flying Tigers." Maj Gen Franks last served as Commander, Fifteenth Air Force, from 2020 until his retirement in 2021.

Assignments

1. Mar 1991 - Air Traffic Control Officer Training, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
2. Aug 1992 - Chief, Air Traffic Control Officer, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
3. Apr 1994 - Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX
4. Oct 1994 - Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Ft Rucker, AL
5. Oct 1995 - Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander, 55th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
6. Apr 2000 - Evaluator Pilot, Flight Commander and Assistant Director of Operations, 84th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
7. Jul 2002 - Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
8. Jul 2003 - Futures Analyst Staff Officer, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, FL
9. May 2005 - Operations Officer, 512th Rescue Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM
10. June 2007 - Commander, 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
11. July 2009 - Student, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA
12. July 2010- Commander, 347th Rescue Group, Moody AFB, GA
13. July 2012- Chief of Staff, Air Force Central Command, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
14. July 2013- Present, Commander, 23d Wing, Moody AFB, GA

Education

Flight Information

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 3,200
Aircraft Flown: T-37, UH-1, UH-1N, MH/HH-60G

Medals, Awards & Badges

Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Organization Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with Bronze Service Star
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal (Yugoslavia) with Bronze Service Star
Command Pilot Badge
Parachutist Badge

Effective Dates of Promotions

Second Lieutenant: 23 October 1990
First Lieutenant: 23 October 1992
Captain: 23 October 1994
Major: 1 December 2001
Lieutenant Colonel: 1 March 2006
Colonel: 1 October 2009

Family

Chad is married to the former Kim Dauterive of New Orleans, LA. They have two sons: Logan and Tyler.

(Information current as of July 2013)