John P. Jumper

General, U.S. Air Force

John P. Jumper was born on 4 February 1945 in Paris, TX. In 1962 he graduated from Hampton High School in Hampton, VA.

As a distinguished graduate of Virginia Military Institute's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program, Jumpers received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1966.

He commanded a fighter squadron, two fighter wings, a numbered Air Force, and U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Allied Air Forces Central Europe.

Jumper has also served at the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, as the Senior Military Assistant to two secretaries of defense, and as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Roles and Missions.

On 17 November 1997, Jumper was promoted to the four-star rank of General and assigned as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE) and Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (COMAIRCENT). In 2000, he became Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC).

General Jumper was appointed as Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (CSAF) in September 2001 and served a four-year term.

Tanker Lease Scandal

On 7 June 2005, General Jumper apologized to Senator John McCain for internal Air Force emails about the Senator in the context of the tanker lease scandal, calling them "unprofessional and not worthy of a great Air Force."

General Jumper retired from the Air Force on 1 November 2005. During his service, he became a Command Pilot with over 5,000 flying hours, principally in fighter aircraft. Jumper served two tours in Southeast Asia, accumulating more than 1,400 combat hours. The aircraft flown during his career included the C-7, C-17, C-20, C-37, T-37, T-38, F-4, F-15, F-16, F-22A, and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Education

• 1966 Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA
• 1975 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
• 1978 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
• 1979 Master of Business Administration degree, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA
• 1982 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC.

Assignments

• June 1966 - July 1967, student pilot, 3550th Pilot Training Squadron, Moody AFB, GA.
• July 1967 - September 1967, C-7 upgrade training, Sewart AFB, TN.
• October 1967 - October 1968, C-7 pilot, 459th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam.
• November 1968 - July 1969, F-4 upgrade training, 431st Tactical Fighter Squadron, George AFB, CA.
• July 1969 - May 1970, Instructor Pilot, Weapons Officer and fast forward air controller, 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand.
• June 1970 - July 1974, Instructor Pilot, Flight Examiner and Standardization and Evaluation Chief, 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Bentwaters, England.
• July 1974 - August 1977, Flight Instructor, later, Flight Commander, U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV.
• August 1977 - June 1978, student, Air Command and Staff College, AFB, AL.
• June 1978 - August 1981, Staff Officer for Operations and Readiness, Tactical Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.
• August 1981 - July 1982, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington.
• July 1982 - February 1983, Chief of Safety, 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, Nellis AFB, NV.
• March 1983 - July 1983, Commander, 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV.
• July 1983 - August 1986, Special Assistant and Executive Officer to the Commander, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, VA.
• August 1986 - February 1988, Vice Commander, later, Commander, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, FL.
• February 1988 - May 1990, Commander, 57th Fighter Weapons Wing, Nellis AFB, NV.
• June 1990 - April 1992, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, the Joint Staff, Washington.
• May 1992 - February 1994, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Washington.
• February 1994 - July 1994, Special Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff for Roles and Missions, Washington.
• August 1994 - June 1996, Commander, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces, Shaw AFB, SC.
• June 1996 - November 1997, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington.
• December 1997 - February 2000, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany.
• February 2000 - September 2001, Commander, Headquarters ACC, AFB, VA.
• September 2001 - September 2005, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington.

Promotion Dates

• Second Lieutenant - 12 June 1966
• First Lieutenant - 12 December 1967
• Captain - 12 June 1969
• Major - 1 January 1978
• Lieutenant Colonel - 1 October 1980
• Colonel - 1 October 1985
• Brigadier General - 1 August 1989
• Major General - 1 February 1992
• Lieutenant General - 1 September 1994
• General - 17 November 1997

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3 Awards)

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (3 Awards)

Army Distinguished Service Medal

Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal

Defense Superior Service Medal

Legion of Merit (2 Awards)

Distinguished Flying Cross (3 Awards)

Meritorious Service Medal (3 Awards)

Air Medal (18 Awards)

Air Force Presidential Unit Citation

Navy & Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "Valor" Device (3 Awards)

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

Air Force Combat Readiness Medal (3 Awards)

National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service Star

Vietnam Service Medal with Silver Service Star

Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 Service Star

Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon (2 Awards)

Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon (2 Awards)

Air Force Longevity Service Award (7 Awards)

USAF Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

Air Force Training Ribbon

French Commander Legion of Honor

Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Badges

Command Pilot Badge

Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Honors

In 2000 General Jumper was inducted into the Air Force Order of the Sword, U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

Jumper appeared as himself in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Lost City: Part 2" on television.

In Retirement

Thunderbirds "Thundervision" Scandal

Members of the U.S. Air Force were under investigation by the FBI for having awarded a $50 million dollar contract for audio-visual presentation services to Strategic Message Solutions of Plymouth Meeting, PA. The contract involved the "Thundervision" project, meant to provide oversized video screens and perhaps content services during air shows that featured the Air Force Thunderbirds. The investigation revolves around possible involvement of Jumper, and the man who replaced him as Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General T. Michael Moseley. It was suggested that the contract price was inflated, because a friend of the two generals, Air Force General (ret.) Hal Hornburg, was associated with Strategic Message Solutions. Two companies involved in the bidding process protested award of the contract, one having offered comparable services for half as much. The Air Force later cancelled the contract.