John P. Jumper

John P. Jumper

General John P. Jumper
Born February 4, 1945 (1945-02-04) (age 67)
Paris, Texas
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service 1966–2005
Rank General
Commands held 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron
33rd Tactical Fighter Wing
57th Fighter Weapons Wing
9th Air Force
U.S. Central Command Air Forces
U.S. Air Forces in Europe
Allied Air Forces Central Europe
Headquarters ACC
Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross (3)
Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Air Medal (17)
French Legion of Honor

John P. Jumper (born February 4, 1945) is a retired United States Air Force general, who served as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from September 6, 2001 to September 2, 2005. He retired from the Air Force on November 1, 2005. Jumper was succeeded as Chief of Staff by General T. Michael Moseley.

Contents

Background

Jumper was born in Paris, Texas. He earned his commission as a distinguished graduate of Virginia Military Institute's Air Force ROTC program in 1966. He has commanded a fighter squadron, two fighter wings, a numbered Air Force, and U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Allied Air Forces Central Europe. Prior to becoming Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the general served as Commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base.

Jumper has also served at the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, as the Senior Military Assistant to two secretaries of defense, and as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Roles and Missions. A command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, principally in fighter aircraft, Jumper served two tours in Southeast Asia, accumulating more than 1,400 combat hours.

Jumper retired from the Air Force on November 1, 2005.

Education

  1. 1962 Hampton High School (Hampton, Virginia)
  2. 1966 Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington
  3. 1975 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
  4. 1978 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
  5. 1979 Master of Business Administration degree, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California
  6. 1982 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

Assignments

  1. June 1966 – July 1967, student pilot, 3550th Pilot Training Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia
  2. July 1967 – September 1967, C-7 upgrade training, Sewart AFB, Tennessee
  3. October 1967 – October 1968, C-7 pilot, 459th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam
  4. November 1968 – July 1969, F-4 upgrade training, 431st Tactical Fighter Squadron, George AFB, California
  5. July 1969 – May 1970, instructor pilot, weapons officer and fast forward air controller, 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand
  6. June 1970 – July 1974, instructor pilot, flight examiner and standardization and evaluation chief, 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Bentwaters, England
  7. July 1974 – August 1977, flight instructor, later, flight commander, U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
  8. August 1977 – June 1978, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
  9. June 1978 – August 1981, Staff Officer for Operations and Readiness, Tactical Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  10. August 1981 – July 1982, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
  11. July 1982 – February 1983, Chief of Safety, 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada
  12. March 1983 – July 1983, Commander, 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada
  13. July 1983 – August 1986, Special Assistant and Executive Officer to the Commander, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
  14. August 1986 – February 1988, Vice Commander, later, Commander, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
  15. February 1988 – May 1990, Commander, 57th Fighter Weapons Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada
  16. June 1990 – April 1992, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
  17. May 1992 – February 1994, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.
  18. February 1994 – July 1994, Special Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff for Roles and Missions, Washington, D.C.
  19. August 1994 – June 1996, Commander, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
  20. June 1996 – November 1997, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  21. December 1997 – February 2000, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
  22. February 2000 – September 2001, Commander, Headquarters ACC, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
  23. September 2001 – September 2005, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

Television

Jumper appeared as himself in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Lost City: Part 2".[1]

Flight information

Awards and decorations

Master Air Force Pilot Badge
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Medal (17th consecutive award of this medal; denotes second ribbon for accouterment spacing)
Presidential Unit Citation (Air Force) with bronze oak leaf cluster
Presidential Unit Citation (Navy)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Vietnam Service Medal with silver service star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
French Legion of Honour, Commandeur Medal
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions
Insignia Rank Date
General November 17, 1997
Lieutenant General  September 1, 1994
Major General February 1, 1992
Brigadier General August 1, 1989
Colonel October 1, 1985
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 1980
Major January 1, 1978
Captain June 12, 1969
First Lieutenant December 12, 1967
Second Lieutenant June 12, 1966

Tanker Lease Scandal

On June 7, 2005 General Jumper apologized to Senator McCain for internal Air Force emails about the Senator in the context of the tanker lease scandal, calling them "unprofessional and not worthy of a great Air Force."[2]

Thunderbirds "Thundervision" Scandal

Members of the United States Air Force were under investigation by the FBI for having awarded a $50 million dollar contract for audio-visual presentation services to Strategic Message Solutions of Plymouth Meeting, Pa.[3][4][5] The contract involved the "Thundervision" project, meant to provide oversized video screens and perhaps content services during air shows that featured the Air Force Thunderbirds. The investigation revolves around possible involvement of Jumper, and then Chief of Staff of the Air Force T. Michael Moseley. It was suggested that the contract price was inflated, because a friend of the two generals, Air Force General (ret.) Hal Hornburg, was associated with Strategic Message Solutions.[6] Two companies involved in the bidding process protested award of the contract, one having offered comparable services for half as much. The Air Force later cancelled the contract.[7]

Notes

  1. ^ IMDB Cast listing for episode "The Lost City: Part 2" lists John P. Jumper playing himself.
  2. ^ Report Faults Air Force on Proposed Boeing Deal
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/052006G.shtml
  5. ^ http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/mrs_panstreppon/2006/jun/15/while_the_troops_are_getting_their_heads_blown_off_in_iraq
  6. ^ [2]
  7. ^ [3]

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Gen. Michael E. Ryan		 Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
2001–2005		 Succeeded by
Gen. T. Michael Moseley