James Hecker

James B. Hecker is a retired four-star United States Air Force general who last served as the commander of United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa and Allied Air Command from 2022 to 2025.^[2][3][4][5] Before that, he served as the commander and president of Air University from 2019 to 2022.^[6] and also previously served as the vice director for operations of the Joint Staff.^{[7][8][9][10]}

James B. Hecker
Hecker in 2022
Born	California, United States[1]
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1989–2025
Rank	General
Commands	United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Allied Air Command Air University 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan NATO Air Command-Afghanistan Nineteenth Air Force 18th Wing 432nd Wing 3rd Operations Group 27th Fighter Squadron
Battles / wars	War in Afghanistan
Awards	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit (3)

He is from Arnold, California and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1989.^[11]

Awards and decorations

Gen Hecker assumes command U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa on June 27, 2022.

	US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	Air Staff Badge
	Weapons School Graduate Patch

	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
	Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
	Air Medal with "C" device and two oak leaf clusters
	Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Achievement Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
	Combat Readiness Medal
	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 service star
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Armed Forces Service Medal
	Humanitarian Service Medal with service star
	Air and Space Campaign Medal
	Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon
	NATO Medal for Kosovo with service star

Effective dates of promotions

Rank	Date
Second lieutenant[6]	31 May 1989
First lieutenant[6]	31 May 1991
Captain	31 May 1993
Major	1 July 1999
Lieutenant colonel[6]	1 March 2002
Colonel[6]	1 January 2007
Brigadier general[6]	2 August 2013
Major general[6]	3 May 2016
Lieutenant general[6]	22 November 2019
General	27 June 2022