page_title: David L. Goldfein
section_title: Military career
hierarchical_section_title: David L. Goldfein / Military career
caption_attribution_description: Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein gives his first "Air Force Update," during the Air Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Sept. 20, 2016. The 21st chief of staff announced his three focus areas: to revitalize squadrons, develop joint leaders and teams, and improve command and control. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
context_page_description: David Lee Goldfein is a United States Air Force four-star general who last served as the 21st chief of staff of the Air Force. He previously served as the vice chief of staff of the Air Force and, prior to that, he served as the director of the Joint Staff, a position within the Joint Chiefs of Staff who assists the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Goldfein will retire effective October 1, 2020, after over 37 years of service.
context_section_description: Goldfein is a Command Pilot with more than 4,200 flying hours with the T-37, T-38, F-16C/D, F-117A, MC-12W, and MQ-9. 
  Goldfein commanded United States Air Forces Central, Shaw AFB, SC and Al Udeid AB, Qatar; 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, NM; 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany; 366th Operations Group, Mountain Home AFB, ID; and the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy.
  Goldfein flew combat missions during the Gulf War, and later deployed to the Vicenza Combined Air Operations Center for Operation Deliberate Force. As commander of the 555th Fighter Squadron, he led his squadron flying an F-16 fighter in Operation Allied Force. During that operation, on 2 May 1999, Goldfein's F-16 was shot down over western Serbia by a S-125 surface-to-air missile fired by the 3rd Battery of the 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade of the Yugoslav Air Force. Goldfein successfully ejected, and was subsequently rescued by NATO helicopters.
caption: Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein speaking at the Air Force Association in September 20, 2016.
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