Col Henry R. Jeffress, III is the Deputy Commander, Air Forces Southern, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. As the Air Force component to U.S. Southern Command, Air Forces Southern conducts security cooperation and provides air, space and cyberspace capabilities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Col Jeffress received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1998. He earned his pilot wings from Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi in 1999. Following his transition to the F-16, he served in multiple operational squadrons as an F-16 Mission Commander, Instructor Pilot, Fighter Training Unit Instructor Pilot, and Flight Evaluator. He was also an Aggressor Pilot in the 64th Aggressor Squadron. Col Jeffress served as the Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea and the Senior Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Prior to his current assignment, the colonel was the Chief of Futures and Concepts, Headquarters, United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioral Sciences, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Master of Aeronautical Science Degree, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by distance learning
2011 Master of Arts in Counseling and Leadership, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
- October 1998 – April 1999, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
- May 1999 – September 2000, Student, F-16 Fighter Training Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- October 2000 – May 2003, F-16 Pilot and Life Support Officer, 23rd Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
- June 2003 – June 2004, F-16 Pilot and Chief of Scheduling, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
- July 2004 – April 2007, F-16 FTU Instructor and Flight Commander, 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- May 2007 – June 2008, Weapons Assistant Director of Operations, 64th Aggressor Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- July 2008 – June 2009, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander, USAF Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- July 2009 – April 2010, Deputy Chief Warfighter Integration Office, USAF Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- May 2010 – May 2011, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
- May 2011 – May 2013, Commander, Cadet Squadron 26, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
- June 2013 – August 2013, F-16 TX-Student, 182nd Fighter Squadron, Lackland-Kelly AFB, Texas
- September 2013 – August 2014, Director of Operations, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
- September 2014 – October 2015, Commander, Detachment 93, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.
- October 2015 – June 2016, Commander, 367th FS Homestead ARB, Fla.
- July 2016 – May 2017, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2017 – June 2019, Chief of Operations, Joint Electromagnetic Preparedness for Advanced Combat, U.S. Strategic Command, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- July 2019 – June 2020, Director, JEPAC/J3, USSTRATCOM, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- July 2020 – May 2022, Vice Commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
- May 2022 – May 2023, Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
- June 2023 – Aug 2024, Senior Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA
- Aug 2024 – June 2025, Chief of Futures and Concepts, Headquarters US Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA
- June 2025 – present, Deputy Commander, Air Forces Southern, U.S. Southern Command, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
June 2017 – June 2020, Chief of Operations/Director of Joint Electromagnetic Preparedness for Advanced Combat, U.S. Strategic Command, Nellis AFB, Nev.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 2,446
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16 Blk 25/30/40/42/50/52
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with 1 Service Star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1998
First Lieutenant May 27, 2000
Captain May 27, 2002
Major December 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2013
Colonel July 1, 2019
(Current as of June 2025)