Colonel Jeffrey R. McDaniels is the Director of Air Operations, Directorate of Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He leads 6 divisions that implement policy and provide oversight of air operations. This includes operational readiness; command and control; aircrew management & flying training; special operations & personnel recovery; classified programs, civil aviation & homeland defense. The Directorate of Operations is the Air Force Chief of Staff lead for tracking combat/contingency operations and exercises. The directorate also develops and assesses airpower employment and concepts.
Colonel McDaniels is a native of Yakima, WA and was commissioned in 1987 as a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has served in multiple operational, command and staff assignments. He has commanded the 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Texas, 27th Operations Group, Cannon AFB, New Mexico and the 310th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona. The 47th FTW is the largest Pilot Training Wing in the USAF, with 247 aircraft and more than 4,000 personnel. His staff assignments include Chief of Forces Division, J8, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Operations for the Chief of Staff's Operations Group and F-22A Program Manager on the Air Staff.
Colonel McDaniels is a command pilot with more than 3,200 hours in the F-16, including over 400 hours of combat time.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science Degree, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., Distinguished Graduate
1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., Distinguished Graduate
1999 Master of Science Degree, Aeronautical Sciences, Embry-Riddle University, Daytona Beach, Fla., Graduated with Honors
2000 Master of Science Degree, Military Operational Art & Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., Distinguished Graduate
2005 Master of Science Degree, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2006 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, No. Car.
2009 Center for Creative Leadership, San Diego, Calif.
2010 Senior Executive Fellow's program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1987 - September 1988, Distinguished Graduate, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. January 1989 - September 1989, Student, F-16 Formal Training Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. October 1989 - February 1991, F-16 Flight Lead and Squadron Training Officer, 35th Tactical Fighter
Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
4. March 1991 - August 1992, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Assist Weapons Officer, 308th Fighter Squadron,
Homestead AFB, Fla.
5. September 1992 - December 1994, F-16 Flight Examiner and Chief of Sq Stan Eval, 307th/68th Fighter
Squadrons, Moody AFB, Ga.
6. January 1995 - June 1995, F-16 Weapons Instructor Course, USAF Fighter Weapons School, Nellis
AFB, Nev.
7. July 1995 - June 1997, F-16 Weapons Officer and Flight Commander, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB,
Republic of Korea
8. July 1997 - July 1999, Chief, Wing Weapons and Assistant Operations Officer, 510th Fighter Squadron,
Aviano AB, Italy
9. August 1999 - June 2000, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. July 2000 - June 2001, Deputy Division Chief and F-22A Program Element Monitor, Deputy Chief of Staff
for Operations, Headquarters US Air Force, Washington, D.C.
11. June 2001 - June 2002, Chief of Operations, Air Force Chief of Staff Operations Group, Headquarters
U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2002 - June 2004, Commander, 310th Fighter Squadron, then Deputy Commander, 56th
Operations Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
13. July 2004 - July 2005, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J.
McNair, Washington D.C.
14. Aug 2005 - June 2007, Commander, 27th Operations Group, Cannon AFB, N. Mex.
15. Jun 2007 - Apr 2009, Chief, Forces Division, Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, and
Assessment, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.
16. Apr 2009 - May 2010, Commander, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Texas
17. May 2010 - Present, Director of Air Operations, Directorate of Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff for
Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jun 2007 - Apr 2009, Chief, Forces Division, Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, and
Assessment, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,600
Aircraft Flown: F-16, T-38, AT-38, T-37, T-6, T-1
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal with two devices
Korean Defense Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1987
First Lieutenant May 27, 1989
Captain May 27, 1991
Major Aug. 1, 1998
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2001
Colonel Aug. 1, 2005
(Current as of May 2010)