Larry O . Spencer Larry O . Spencer is a United States Air Force General who served in many command , comptroller , and other leadership roles during the course of his career . He is currently the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force , serving at The Pentagon . Spencer is one of the most senior African Americans serving on active duty in the United States Department of Defense . Personal life . Spencer was born in Washington , District of Columbia . He later moved with his family to Seat Pleasant in Prince George ' s County , Maryland , a suburb just outside Washington . Spencer attended Central High School in Prince George ' s County , where he participated in academic and varsity sports programs that helped him develop leadership and personal discipline . Later , he attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale , receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering technology in 1979 . In 1980 , Spencer was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ’ s Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas . He was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation . General Spencer is married to Ora M . Spencer . Together they have three children ; Larry Oneil Spencer II , Derrick Lajuane Spencer , and Shannon Christine Spencer ( who ' s married name is Shannon Christine Gorham ) . Air Force officer . As a second lieutenant , Spencer was assigned to the financial management career field . His first officer assignment in 1980 was as a cost analyst for the Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia . During that three - year tour Spencer served as the chief of the headquarters cost analysis branch . In 1982 , he was transferred to the Pentagon . He served on the Air Staff for four years , first as a cost analyst and then a budget officer . In August 1986 , Spencer was reassigned to Military Airlift Command headquarters at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois . He served three years there , first as a budget officer and the as an executive officer . He attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico , Virginia from July 1989 until January 1990 . After graduating from that military education program , he was selected to his first command . Spencer was commander of the 4th Comptroller Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina for three years . During his tenure as commander , the 4th Comptroller Squadron was selected as the best comptroller unit in the Air Force , first in 1991 and then again in 1992 . This was the first time a comptroller squadron had received best in the Air Force recognition two years in a row . In August 1993 , Spencer was selected to attend the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Lesley J . McNair , receiving a Master of Science degree from the college in June 1994 . This was followed by an assignment to the White House Military Office , where he was the first Air Force officer to serve as assistant chief of staff . Spencer was then selected for group command . He served as commander of the 72nd Support Group at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma from August 1996 to January 1998 . He was promoted to colonel during that assignment . As a result of his successful tour as a group commander , Spencer was selected for a wing command . He took command of the 75th Air Base Wing at Hill Air Force Base in Utah , serving there from February 1998 until July 1999 . His next assignment was at Headquarters Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia , where he served as the command ’ s comptroller from September 1999 until June 2003 . Flag rank service . Spencer was transferred to Wright - Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio in June 2003 , where he became director of mission support at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command . In this role , Spencer was responsible for overseeing installation support for the command . This included civil engineering , communications , force protection , and base morale and welfare services . These functions supported daily operations at 10 installations across the United States . Spencer was promoted to brigadier general in July 2004 . In August 2005 , he was transferred to the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base , where he served as the center ’ s vice commander for one year . In August 2006 , Spencer returned to the Pentagon to serve as director of budget operations and personnel in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller . In August 2007 , he was promoted to major general . He became the Air Force ’ s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget in October of that year . During his tour as deputy assistant secretary for budget , Spencer received the " Eugene M . Zuckert Management Award " . The award cited his leadership in developing the President ' s 2008 budget and his work to secure the 2007 and 2008 supplemental appropriations needed to fund war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan . During this period , Spencer also served on the Army and Air Force Exchange Service board of directors and the Air Force Aid Society board of directors . Spencer was promoted to lieutenant general in April 2010 , prior to moving to the Pentagon ’ s Joint Staff as director of Force Structure , Resources and Assessment ( also known as " J8 " ) . In this position , he was responsible for overseeing the developing defense weapon systems , conducting studies and analysis of military force structure and requirements , and evaluating military programs and resourcing strategies for the Joint Chiefs of Staff . Spencer also served as chairman of the Joint Capabilities Board and secretary for the Joint Requirements Oversight Council . In 2010 , " US Black Engineer and Information Technology Magazine " honored Spencer with the " Black Engineer of the Year Career Achievement in Government Award " . On 11 May 2012 , the President nominated Spencer for promotion to General and recommended him for appointment as Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force . The United States Senate confirmed his nomination and appointment as Vice Chief on 24 May 2012 . He was officially promoted to four - star general 27 July 2012 , the same day he assumed the duties of Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force . As Vice Chief of Staff , Spencer directs the Air Staff and is the Air Force ’ s representative on the Joint Requirements Oversight Council and several other joint service boards . He also assists the Chief of Staff of the Air Force with the organizing , training , and equipping of 690 , 000 active - duty , Air National Guard , Air Force Reserve , and civilian personnel who make up the United States Air Force . Awards and decorations . Some of General Spencer ’ s most prestigious decorations include :