caption serviceyears branch commands allegiance awards placeofburial_label birth_date rank image article_title name
general john d.w. corley 1973 -- 2009 usa air 355th wing 33d operations group 8th fighter squadron combat command vice chief of staff , usaf united states united states air superior service medal legion of merit bronze star defense meritorious force service medal distinguished service medal -lrb- 3 -rrb- defense place of burial 1951 35px general general john corley , official air force photo.jpg john d. w. corley
 john d. w. corley
john d. w. corley

john donald wesley corley -lrb- born 1951 -rrb- is a retired four-star general in the united states air force .
he previously served as the commander of air combat command from october 2007 to september 10 , 2009 and as the 32nd vice chief of staff of the air force from september 2005 to september 2007 .
he retired from the air force on november 1 , 2009 .
general corley is responsible for organizing , training , equipping and maintaining combat-ready forces for rapid deployment and employment while ensuring strategic air defense forces are ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defense .
acc operates more than 1,200 aircraft , 27 wings , 17 bases and more than 200 operating locations worldwide with 105,000 active-duty and civilian personnel .
when mobilized , the air national guard and air force reserve contribute more than 900 aircraft and 56,000 people to air combat command .
as the combat air forces lead agent , acc develops strategy , doctrine , concepts , tactics and procedures for air and space power employment .
the command provides conventional , nuclear and information warfare forces to all unified commands to ensure air , space and information superiority for warfighters and national decision-makers .
acc can also be called upon to assist national agencies with intelligence , surveillance and crisis response capabilities .
prior to his current assignment general corley was vice chief of staff , headquarters u.s. air force , washington , d.c. .
as vice chief , he presided over the air staff and served as a member of the joint chiefs of staff requirements oversight council .
general corley entered the air force after graduating from the united states air force academy in 1973 .
he earned his wings at reese air force base , texas , in 1974 .
his aviation career includes more than 3,000 flying hours with combat experience .
he has commanded at the squadron , group and wing levels .
his staff positions comprise a mix of operational and joint duties in tactical air command , headquarters u.s. air force and the joint staff .
as combined air operations center director during operation enduring freedom , the general orchestrated more than 11,000 combat missions striking more than 4,700 targets , including 250 attacks against the al qaida and taliban leadership .
he directed the safe recovery of isolated personnel during the largest combat search and rescue mission in 50 years and was awarded the bronze star medal .
