Jacqueline Van Ovost
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| 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 |
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| 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 | |
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]
Van Ovost received a Bachelor of ScienceinAeronautical 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, Fresnoinmechanical engineering (1996), from Air Command and Staff Collegeinmilitary arts and sciences (1999), and from Air War Collegeinstrategic studies (2004).[4]
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]
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]
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. Senatebyunanimous 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]
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U.S. Air Force Command Pilot Badge |
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Headquarters Air Force Badge |
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United States Transportation Command Badge |
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Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
| Insignia | Rank | Date |
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General | Aug. 20, 2020 |
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Lieutenant general | Nov. 8, 2017 |
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Major general | May 22, 2015 |
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Brigadier general | Aug. 2, 2012 |
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Colonel | Dec. 1, 2006 |
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Lieutenant colonel | May 1, 2001 |
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Major | Aug. 1, 1998 |
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Captain | June 1, 1992 |
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First lieutenant | June 1, 1990 |
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Second lieutenant | June 1, 1988 |
This article incorporates public domain material from Jacqueline Van Ovost. United States Air Force. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
Media related to Jacqueline D. Van Ovost at Wikimedia Commons| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing 2008–2010 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | 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 by asCommandant of the Coast Guard | Order of precedence of the United States as Commander of U.S. Transportation Command |
Succeeded by as Commander of U.S. Southern Command |
