James C. Slife

James C. Slife
James C. Slife
Born	1967 (age 57–58); Michigan, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1989–2025
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 retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as the vice chief of staff of the United States Air Force from 19 December 2023 to 21 February 2025. He previously 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.^[1]^[2] Slife was commissioned through the ROTC program at Auburn University in 1989.^[3]

In September 2023, Slife was nominated for promotion to general and appointment as vice chief of staff of the Air Force.^[4]

On 21 February 2025, Slife was relieved from his position as vice chief of staff of the Air Force. As of May 2025, a replacement has not been announced.

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	19 December 2023
	Lieutenant general	29 June 2018
	Major general	2 May 2016
	Brigadier general	12 July 2013
	Colonel	1 March 2006
	Lieutenant colonel	1 March 2002
	Major	1 July 1999
	Captain	20 October 1993
	First lieutenant	20 October 1991
	Second lieutenant	9 June 1989

^[5]

References

^ Saphore, Cassandra (9 December 2022). "Bauernfeind new leader of Air Commandos". Air Force Special Operations Command. Hurlburt Field, Florida: AFSOC Public Affairs. Retrieved 11 December 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 Library of Congress Linked Data Service: linked authority record no2005096325.
^ "Lt. Gen. Jim Slife assumes command at AFSOC". 2 July 2019.
^ "PN933 — Lt. Gen. James C. Slife — Air Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
^ "JAMES C. "JIM" SLIFE". Air Force. Retrieved 8 January 2024.

External links

Appearances on C-SPAN

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

[2] Date information sourced from Library of Congress Authorities data, via corresponding Library of Congress Linked Data Service: linked authority record no2005096325.

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

[4] "PN933 — Lt. Gen. James C. Slife — Air Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.

[5] "JAMES C. "JIM" SLIFE". Air Force. Retrieved 8 January 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF
National	United States