# James C. Slife

James C. Slife (born 1967) is a United States Air Force four-star general who served as the vice chief of staff of the United States Air Force from 19 December 2023 to 21 February 2025. He previously served as the deputy chief of staff for operations of the United States Air Force from December 2022 to December 2023.
He served as the commander of Air Force Special Operations Command from June 2019 to December 2022, having previously served as the vice commander from July 2018 to June 2019 and chief of staff of United States Special Operations Command from June 2017 to June 2018. Slife was commissioned through the ROTC program at Auburn University in 1989.
In September 2023, Slife was nominated for promotion to general and appointment as vice chief of staff of the Air Force.
On 21 February 2025, Slife was relieved from his position as vice chief of staff of the Air Force. As of 23 February 2025, a replacement has not been announced.

## Awards and decorations

Personal decorations :
| | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal |
| | Defense Superior Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters |
| | Legion of Merit |
| | Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster |
| | Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
| | Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters |
| | Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters |
| | Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters |
| | Joint Service Commendation Medal |
| | Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster |
| | Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster |
| | Air Force Combat Action Medal |
| Unit awards ||
| | Joint Meritorious Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters |
| | Gallant Unit Citation |
| | Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster |
| | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and silver oak leaf cluster |
| | Air Force Organizational Excellence Award |
| Service awards ||
| | Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster |
| Campaign and service medals ||
| | 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 three service stars |
| | Iraq Campaign Medal with three service stars |
| | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
| | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
| | Korea Defense Service Medal |
| | Armed Forces Service Medal with two service stars |
| | Humanitarian Service Medal with two service stars |
| Service, training, and marksmanship awards ||
| | Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon |
| | Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster |
| | Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and silver oak leaf cluster |
| | Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf cluster |
| | Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star |
| | Air Force Training Ribbon |
| Foreign awards ||
| | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with two service stars |
| | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) |
Other accoutrements :
* US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
* Basic Parachutist Badge
* Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

## Effective dates of promotion

| Rank | Date |
| General | 19 December 2023 |
| Lieutenant general | 29 June 2018 |
| Major general | 2 May 2016 |
| Brigadier general | 12 July 2013 |
| Colonel | 1 March 2006 |
| Lieutenant colonel | 1 March 2002 |
| Major | 1 July 1999 |
| Captain | 20 October 1993 |
| First lieutenant | 20 October 1991 |
| Second lieutenant | 9 June 1989 |