Jacqueline_D._Van_Ovost
Jacqueline Van Ovost
US Air Force general (born 1965)
Jacqueline Desiree Van Ovost (born September 29, 1965)[1] is a United States Air Force general who has served as the 14th commander of the United States Transportation Command since October 15, 2021. She was nominated to that post by President Biden on March 5, 2021.[2] Van Ovost had previously served as the commander of the Air Mobility Command from August 2020 to October 2021. In early 2021, she was the only active-duty female four-star general officer in the United States.[3]
Jacqueline Van Ovost | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1965-09-29) September 29, 1965 (age 58) Arlington Heights, Illinois, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1988–present |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
| Alma mater | United States Air Force Academy (BS) California State University, Fresno (MS) Air University (MMAS, MS) |
Van Ovost testifies at a House Armed Services joint subcommittee hearing on the state of the mobility enterprise Recorded April 11, 2024 | |
Van Ovost received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988. After commissioning into the US Air Force, she attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (1989) followed by U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (1994).[4] Van Ovost holds master's degrees from California State University, Fresno in mechanical engineering (1996), from Air Command and Staff College in military arts and sciences (1999), and from Air War College in strategic studies (2004).[4]
Early career
Van Ovost was commissioned upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988. She attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Reese Air Force Base (now the Reese Technology Center) and graduated in 1989. She is also a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and is a command pilot with more than 4,200 hours in more than 30 aircraft, including the C-32A, C-17A, C-141B, and KC-135R. Even further, Van Ovost was an Instructor Pilot for the Test Pilot School.[4] Van Ovost's notable military assignments include Vice Commander of the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center (2012–13), Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs (Europe, NATO, Russia) in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5) of the Joint Staff (2013–15), Vice Director for the Joint Staff (2015-17), Director of Staff at Headquarters Air Force (2017-2020), and Deputy Commander of Air Mobility Command (April 2020-August 2020).[4]
Air Mobility Command
On July 20, 2020, the Senate confirmed Van Ovost as commander of Air Mobility Command (AMC), a major command (MAJCOM) of the Air Force; Van Ovost also gained her fourth-star.[5] She replaced retiring AMC commanding Gen. Maryanne Miller, under whom she served as AMC's deputy commander, on August 20, 2020.[6] Van Ovost served as AMC Commander until she relinquished command on October 5, 2021.[2] In preparation for her expected confirmation as TRANSCOM head, President Biden nominated United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) deputy commander Lt. Gen. Michael Minihan to replace Van Ovost as AMC commander.[7]
Transportation Command nomination
On March 6, 2021, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that President Biden had nominated Van Ovost to become commander of United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM).[8] Her nomination was sent to the Senate on March 5, 2021.[9] Her nomination was originally recommended by then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper and General Mark Milley, but Esper later delayed it until after the 2020 United States presidential election due to his concerns of the Trump administration's possible reaction against nominating women to such high leadership positions.[10][11] Van Ovost's nomination hearings to head TRANSCOM were held before the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 23, 2021.[12][13][14] She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent on October 1, 2021 and assumed command on October 15, 2021, becoming the second woman to lead a unified combatant command after General Lori Robinson.[15][16]
| U.S. Air Force Command Pilot Badge | |
| Headquarters Air Force Badge | |
| United States Transportation Command Badge | |
| Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
| Insignia | Rank | Date |
|---|---|---|
| General | Aug. 20, 2020 | |
 | Lieutenant general | Nov. 8, 2017 |
 | Major general | May 22, 2015 |
 | Brigadier general | Aug. 2, 2012 |
 | Colonel | Dec. 1, 2006 |
 | Lieutenant colonel | May 1, 2001 |
 | Major | Aug. 1, 1998 |
 | Captain | June 1, 1992 |
 | First lieutenant | June 1, 1990 |
 | Second lieutenant | June 1, 1988 |
This article incorporates public domain material from Jacqueline Van Ovost. United States Air Force. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- "Brig Gen Jacqueline D. Van Ovost". Military Hall of Honor. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- Everstine, Brian W. (March 8, 2021). "Van Ovost Tapped to Lead TRANSCOM, New Bosses Named for SOUTHCOM and INDOPACOM". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- "General Jacqueline D. Van Ovost". Biographies. United States Air Force. February 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- Everstine, Brian W. (July 24, 2020). "Senate Confirms New Bosses of AMC, ACC". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- Losey, Stephen (August 21, 2020). "Gen. Van Ovost takes the reins at Air Mobility Command". Air Force Times. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- Cohen, Rachel (July 15, 2021). "Biden nominates new Air Mobility Command boss". Air Force Times. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- "General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- "PN237 — Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost — Air Force, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- Schmitt, Eric; Cooper, Helene (February 17, 2021). "Promotions for Female Generals Were Delayed Over Fears of Trump's Reaction". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- Everstine, Brian W. (February 17, 2021). "Report: AMC Boss Expected to be Nominated to Lead TRANSCOM". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- "PN237 - 1 nominee for Air Force, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. March 5, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
- McCullough, Amy (July 14, 2021). "Biden Nominates First Commander for Space Systems Command, New Boss at AMC". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
- "Nomination - Van Ovost". U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
- Cohen, Rachel S. (July 16, 2021). "Biden nominates new Air Mobility Command boss". Defense News. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
- "Webcast: TRANSCOM Welcomes New Commander". DVIDS. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
Media related to Jacqueline D. Van Ovost at Wikimedia Commons
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| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing 2008–2010 |
Succeeded by Richard Murphy |
| Preceded by Steven Harrison |
Commander of the 89th Airlift Wing 2010–2012 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Director of Staff of the United States Air Force 2017–2020 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of the Air Mobility Command 2020–2021 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of the United States Transportation Command 2021–present |
Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command | Order of precedence of the United States as Commander of U.S. Transportation Command |
Succeeded byas Commander of U.S. Southern Command |