General USAF Retired Jacqueline Van Ovost

Jacqueline van Ovost is a proven strategic leader, communicator, and experienced aviator. She is currently a consultant in the areas of national security, logistics and STEM education. She rose to the highest levels of leadership in the military, retiring as a US Air Force General and one of 11 Combatant Commanders in the Defense Department.

During her 36 years of service, she led diverse teams to success while being directly accountable for managing resources, improving capabilities, and driving reform. She earned a reputation as an inspirational leader, strategic thinker, and problem solver.

As Commander of US Transportation Command, she was responsible to project and sustain military power utilizing air, land, and sea transportation capabilities. She was the unifying voice for the Department’s global distribution network, including bulk fuels. She supported US European Command with the largest joint force deployment in two decades, overseeing the transportation of equipment to Ukraine and support to NATO. Following Hamas’ attacks on Israel, she supported US Central Command positioning force protection capabilities and providing support to Israel.

As Commander of Air Mobility Command, she led the US Air Force core mission of Rapid Global Mobility supporting warfighter needs and directing a team of 110,000 Airmen and 1,100 mobility aircraft at 116 global operating locations during a global pandemic. Under her leadership, Air Mobility Command undertook the nation’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, culminating in the largest noncombatant evacuation in US history.

Her aviation experience spans from being a certified flight instructor in general aviation aircraft to military aircraft instructor and evaluator. She is a test pilot with experience in many types of aircraft, including as the lead military test pilot for the C-17 program and an assignment teaching at the Air Force Test Pilot School.

She commanded a Flying Training Wing specializing in flight instructor and combat systems operator training, and the Presidential Airlift Wing responsible for global airlift, logistics and communications for the President, Vice President, and other senior leaders. Focused on safe and reliable global operations, she led a Safety Investigation Board for a fatal tanker/transport aircraft crash on foreign soil.

She graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988 with a Bachelors in Aeronautical Engineering, and from California State University, Fresno with a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. She is a command pilot with more than 4,200 hours in over 30 military aircraft including the KC-46, C–32A, C–17A, C– 141B, and KC–135R.

Additionally, she held a variety of joint and service staff, operational combat, and educational assignments, retiring in 2024. Her full military biography can be found on the Air Force website.