Stephen C. Williams
Major General, U.S. Air Force

Stephen C. Williams received his commission as a Second Lieutenant from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1989, where he was the top graduate in Engineering Mechanics.

He attended pilot training and was a Distinguished Graduate at Williams Air Force Base, AZ. During his career, Williams held various Squadron, Wing and Major Command Level positions to include F-16 Fighting Falcon Weapons Instructor and Flight Examiner as well as Commander, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan, where he earned the 2007 McKay Trophy for the most meritorious sortie of the year. He was also the Pacific Air Forces Commander's Executive Officer and served as Assistant Director of Cyber Planning in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the Pentagon, Washington, DC. Prior to assuming his current position, Colonel Williams was the 8th Fighter Wing Vice Commander at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

Major General Williams last served as special assistant to the commander of Air Combat Command. He retired in October 2021. He now owns and operates Torch Consulting LLC.

Assignments

1. July 1989 - July 1990, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams AFB, AZ
2. August 1990 - May 1991, Student, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, MacDill AFB, FL
3. June 1991 - October 1992, F-16 Flight Lead, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
4. October 1992 - December 1995, Electronic Combat Officer, F-16 Instructor, 421st Fighter Squadron and 388th Operations Support Squadron, Hill AFB, UT
5. December 1995 - June 1998, Weapons Officer, F-16 Weapons Instructor and Flight Examiner, 522nd Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
6. June 1998 - June 2001, Flight Commander, F-16 Weapons Instructor and Flight Examiner, F-16 Division, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
7. June 2001 - June 2003, Fighter/Weapons Program Analyst and Executive Officer for the Director of Plans and Programs, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, VA
8. June 2003 - June 2004, Student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
9. July 2004 - September 2004, Student, F-16 Re-Qualification Training, 182nd Fighter Squadron, Air National Guard, Kelly AFB, TX
10. September 2004 - May 2005, Chief of Advanced Programs, 35th Operations Group, Misawa AB, Japan
11. May 2005 - May 2006, Operations Officer, 14th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
12. May 2006 - May 2008, Commander, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
13. June 2008 - June 2009, Executive Officer for the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, HI
14. June 2009 - June 2011, Assistant Director for Cyber Planning, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Pentagon, Washington, DC
15. June 2011 - June 2012, Vice Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
16. September 2012 - June 2014, Commander, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
17. July 2014 - March 2017, Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
18. March 2017 - January 2019, Director of Air and Cyberspace Operations, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
19. January 2019 - February 2021, Chief of Staff, United States Forces Korea, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea
20. March 2021 - October 2021, Special Assistant to the Commander, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.

Education

1989 Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
1996 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV
1997 Squadron Officers School, in correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2003 Master of Science in Aerospace Technology, Embry Riddle University, Daytona Beach, FL
2003 Air Command and Staff College, in correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2004 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
2008 Air War College, in correspondence

Flight Information

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 2,800
Aircraft flown: F-16 C/D, AT-38, T-38, T-37

Medals, Awards & Badges

Defense Superior Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
AF Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
AF Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
AF Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
AF Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
AF Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
AF Longevity Service Award with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
AF Training Ribbon
Command Pilot Badge
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

Effective Dates of Promotions

Second Lieutenant: 31 May 1989
First Lieutenant: 31 May 1991
Captain: 31 May 1993
Major: 1 August 2000
Lieutenant Colonel: 1 September 2005
Colonel: 1 October 2009

(Information current as of July 2024)