Kevin Schneider

Kevin Schneider
File:Gen Kevin B. Schneider.jpg Official portrait, 2024
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1988–present
Rank	General
Commands	Pacific Air Forces United States Forces Japan Fifth Air Force 380th Air Expeditionary Wing 80th Flying Training Wing 80th Fighter Squadron
Battles / wars	Iraq War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal (2)

Kevin Bruce Schneider is a United States Air Force general who has served as the commander of the Pacific Air Forces since 2024. He previously served as director of staff of the United States Air Force from 2021 to 2024. He also served as the commander of the United States Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force.

Air Force career

File:Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and USFJ Commander Lt. Gen. Kevin Schneider at Yokota Air Force Base.jpg

Schneider with United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at Yokota Air Force Base, March 17, 2021.

Kevin Schneider was raised in Springfield, Virginia, and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988 with a degree in engineering science. He attended Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, and graduated in 1989. He attended F-16 Fighting Falcon training at MacDill Air Force Base, and was stationed at Osan Air Base and Misawa Air Base. In 1996, he graduated from the USAF Weapons School. He was then stationed at Shaw Air Force Base and as a Weapons School instructor at Nellis Air Force Base. He served as the aide-de-camp for then-Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Michael E. Ryan. He served as chief of the 52nd Fighter Wing Weapons and Tactics at Spangdahlem Air Base, and commanded the 80th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan Air Base. He attended the Marine Corps War College, and served as the deputy commander of the 56th Operations Group and as vice commander of the 388th Fighter Wing. He commanded the 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base, and the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra Air Base. He then served as the chief of staff of the Pacific Air Forces and Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters in Hawaii. In February 2019, he assumed command of Fifth Air Force and United States Forces Japan.

File:Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Schneider Piloting a Lockheed-Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.jpg

Schneider piloting a Lockheed-Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.

In July 2021, he was nominated and confirmed to succeed Timothy Fay as Director of Staff of the United States Air Force. He assumed the position on September 8, 2021. In April 2023, Schneider was nominated for promotion to general and assignment as commander of the Pacific Air Forces.

Awards and decorations

File:2024 PACAF Change of Command 240209-F-IP756-1566.jpg

Schneider (center right, holding flag) assumes command of Pacific Air Forces on February 9, 2024.

File:COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png	US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
File:Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png	Headquarters Air Force Badge

File:Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
File:Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg	Defense Superior Service Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edgesFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg	Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges.	Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
File:Defense Meritorious Service ribbon.svg	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Silver oak leaf cluster Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.	Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
File:Air Medal ribbon.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg	Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
File:Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon.svgFile:Silver oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg	Aerial Achievement Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg	Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
File:Air Force Achievement ribbon.svg	Air Force Achievement Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
File:Outstanding Unit ribbon.svgFile:"V" device, brass.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters
File:Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (second ribbon to denote fifth award)
Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
File:Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg	Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Bronze star Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
File:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Bronze star File:Iraq Campaign ribbon.svg	Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
File:Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
File:Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
File:Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg	Korea Defense Service Medal
File:AF OS Short Tour Ribbon.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg	Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters
File:Air and Space Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon.svg	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
File:Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon.svg	Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
File:Longevity Service Award USAF.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Silver oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg	Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze star File:USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star
File:Air Force Training Ribbon.svg	Air Force Training Ribbon
File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR.svg	Order of the Rising Sun, Grand Cordon (Japan)

Effective dates of promotions

Insignia	Rank	Date
File:US-O10 insignia.svg	General	February 9, 2024
File:US-O9 insignia.svg	Lieutenant general	February 5, 2019
File:US-O8 insignia.svg	Major general	November 2, 2015
File:US-O7 insignia.svg	Brigadier general	June 2, 2013
File:US-O6 insignia.svg	Colonel	September 1, 2007
File:US-O5 insignia.svg	Lieutenant colonel	February 1, 2003
File:US-O4 insignia.svg	Major	August 1, 1998
File:US-O3 insignia.svg	Captain	June 1, 1992
File:US-OF1A.svg	First lieutenant	June 1, 1990
File:US-OF1B.svg	Second lieutenant	June 1, 1988