James C. Slife

James C. Slife
James C. Slife
Born	1967 (age 56–57); Michigan, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1989–present
Rank	General
Commands	Air Force Special Operations Command; 1st Special Operations Wing; Joint Special Operations Aviation Detachment-Afghanistan; 27th Special Operations Group; Joint Special Operations Aviation Detachment-Arabian Peninsula; 21st Special Operations Squadron;
Battles / wars	Gulf War; War in Afghanistan; Iraq War;
Awards	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal (4); Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal (2);

James C. Slife (born 1967) is a United States Air Force four-star general who has served as the vice chief of staff of the United States Air Force since December 19, 2023.^[1] He most recently served as the deputy chief of staff for operations of the United States Air Force from December 2022 to December 2023.

He served as the commander of Air Force Special Operations Command from June 2019 to December 2022, having previously served as the vice commander from July 2018 to June 2019 and chief of staff of United States Special Operations Command from June 2017 to June 2018.^[2]^[3] Slife was commissioned through the ROTC program at Auburn University in 1989.^[4]

In September 2023, Slife was nominated for promotion to general and appointment as vice chief of staff of the Air Force.^[5]

Awards and decorations

Personal decorations
	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Legion of Merit
	Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
	Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Combat Action Medal
Unit awards
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
	Gallant Unit Citation
	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and silver oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Service awards
	Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
Campaign and service medals
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two service stars
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
	Kosovo Campaign Medal with service star
	Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three service stars
	Iraq Campaign Medal with three service stars
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Korea Defense Service Medal
	Armed Forces Service Medal with two service stars
	Humanitarian Service Medal with two service stars
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
	Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and silver oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf cluster
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star
	Air Force Training Ribbon
Foreign awards
	NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with two service stars
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Other accoutrements
	US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
	Basic Parachutist Badge
	Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

Effective dates of promotion

Insignia	Rank	Date
	General	December 19, 2023
	Lieutenant general	June 29, 2018
	Major general	May 02, 2016
	Brigadier general	July 12, 2013
	Colonel	March 01, 2006
	Lieutenant colonel	March 01, 2002
	Major	July 01, 1999
	Captain	October 20, 1993
	First lieutenant	October 20, 1991
	Second lieutenant	June 09, 1989

^[6]

References

^ "General James C. "Jim" Slife". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
^ Saphore, Cassandra (December 9, 2022). "Bauernfeind new leader of Air Commandos". Air Force Special Operations Command. Hurlburt Field, Florida: AFSOC Public Affairs. Retrieved December 11, 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ Date information sourced from Library of Congress Authorities data, via corresponding WorldCat Identities linked authority file (LAF).
^ "Lt. Gen. Jim Slife assumes command at AFSOC". July 2, 2019.
^ "PN933 — Lt. Gen. James C. Slife — Air Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
^ "JAMES C. "JIM" SLIFE". Air Force. Retrieved 2024-01-08.

Military offices
Preceded by J. Marcus Hicks	Chief of Staff of the United States Special Operations Command 2017–2018	Succeeded by James B. Linder
Preceded by Scott A. Howell	Vice Commander of the United States Special Operations Command 2018–2019	Succeeded by Tony D. Bauernfeind
Preceded by Marshall B. Webb	Commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command 2019–2022	Succeeded by Tony D. Bauernfeind
Preceded by Charles S. Corcoran Acting	Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the United States Air Force 2022–2023	Succeeded by Mark H. Slocum Acting
Preceded by David W. Allvin	Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force 2023–present	Incumbent

[1] "General James C. "Jim" Slife". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 2023-12-28.

[2] Saphore, Cassandra (December 9, 2022). "Bauernfeind new leader of Air Commandos". Air Force Special Operations Command. Hurlburt Field, Florida: AFSOC Public Affairs. Retrieved December 11, 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[3] Date information sourced from Library of Congress Authorities data, via corresponding WorldCat Identities linked authority file (LAF).

[4] "Lt. Gen. Jim Slife assumes command at AFSOC". July 2, 2019.

[5] "PN933 — Lt. Gen. James C. Slife — Air Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2023-09-06.

[6] "JAMES C. "JIM" SLIFE". Air Force. Retrieved 2024-01-08.

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James C. Slife

Born	1967 (age 56–57) Michigan, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1989–present
Rank	General
Commands	Air Force Special Operations Command 1st Special Operations Wing Joint Special Operations Aviation Detachment-Afghanistan 27th Special Operations Group Joint Special Operations Aviation Detachment-Arabian Peninsula 21st Special Operations Squadron
Battles / wars	Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (4) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (2)