Brig. Gen. Derek M. Salmi is the Deputy Commander, Nineteenth Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. He assists the Commander in the management and execution of the Air Education and Training Command flying training mission, from initial screening to advanced combat crew training. Nineteenth Air Force is composed of 32,000 total force personnel and 1,530 aircraft assigned to 18 total force wings at 35 locations across the United States. The command is responsible for more than 45% of the U.S. Air Force’s annual flying hour program and directs aircrew training courses cumulating in over 24,000 graduates annually.
Brig. Gen. Salmi commissioned from the United States Air Force Academy in 1998. He has served in a variety of command and operational assignments and is a graduate of the Air Force’s School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and was a National Defense Fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Brig. Gen. Salmi is a command pilot with more than 3,300 hours in mobility and trainer aircraft. He has deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN. Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Salmi served as the Commander, 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Master of Arts, Organizational Management, George Washington University, Washington D.C.
2007 Air Command and Staff College Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Marine Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va., by correspondence
2010 Advanced International Affairs Certificate, Bush School of Government, Texas A&M University
2011 Master of Philosophy, Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 National Defense Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2019 National Security Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2022 Seminar XXI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1998 – January 2000, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 2000 – August 2004, KC-135R/T Instructor Aircraft Commander, Squadron Executive Officer, Group Standardization/Evaluation Pilot, 19th Air Refueling Group, Robins AFB, Ga.
3. August 2004 – June 2006, Air Force Intern Program, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Operations Directorate, Headquarters Air Force, Washington D.C.
4. June 2006 – June 2010, C-5A/B Evaluator Aircraft Commander, Chief Wing Executive Officer, and Assistant Director of Operations, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
5. July 2010 – June 2011, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. June 2011 – June 2012, Chief of Strategy Plans, Strategy Division, 609th Air and Space Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
7. June 2012 – June 2013, Chief of Safety, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
8. June 2013 – June 2015, Commander, 436th Operations Support Squadron, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
9. June 2015 – June 2016, National Defense Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
10. June 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 100th Operations Group and 401st Air Expeditionary Group, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom
11. June 2018 – July 2020, Commander, 92d Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
12. July 2020 – July 2022, Deputy Director, Strategy, Concepts and Assessments, Directorate for Logistics (J-4), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
13. July 2022 – August 2024, Commander, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif.
14. August 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, Nineteenth Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph, Texas
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: more than 3,300
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-1, C-5A/B/M, KC-135R/T, C-17A, KC-10A, and KC-46
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2020 Air Mobility Command General and Mrs. Jerome F O’Malley Award
PUBLICATIONS
“Slim Chance: The Pivotal Role of Air Mobility In The Burma Campaign,” Air University Press, 2014
“Behind The Light Switch: Toward A Theory of Air Mobility,” Air University Press, 2020
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1998
First Lieutenant May 27, 2000
Captain May 27, 2002
Major Oct. 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 1, 2011
Colonel June 1, 2016
Brigadier General Dec. 5, 2023
(Current as of August 2024)