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.

James C. Slife
Born1967 (age 56–57)
Michigan, United States
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1989–present
RankGeneral
Commands
Battles / wars
Awards

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

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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

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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

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  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.
Military offices
Preceded by Chief of Staff of the United States Special Operations Command
2017–2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Commander of the United States Special Operations Command
2018–2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command
2019–2022
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the United States Air Force
2022–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
2023–present
Incumbent