Wilsbach was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on 17 August 2009 and served as the commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. He was the commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force- Iraq; Commander-Air, U.S. Forces- Iraq; and Chief of Staff-Air, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command. He oversaw three air expeditionary air wings and three expeditionary groups consisting of more than 6,900 Airmen directly engaged in combat operations, and advised on joint expeditionary tasked/individual augmentee taskings in the Iraq combined joint operating area. Additionally, Wilsbach served as the Central Command Combined Forces Air Component Commander's personal representative to the commander of Headquarters ISAF as well as the Commander-Air to the Commander U.S. Forces- Iraq, ensuring the optimal integration of air and space power in support of Headquarters ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom missions.
In May 2023, Wilsbach was nominated for assignment as commander, Air Combat Command.
Wilsbach has flown 71 combat missions in Operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.
On 11 August 2025, Wilsbach passed command of Air Combat Command to General Adrian L. Spain after finishing his three years tenured as commanding General of Air Combat Command.
Air Force Chief of Staff
Only after a month into his transition period for retirement, General Wilsbach was recalled to active-duty for appointment as the 24th chief of staff of the Air Force, succeeding the retiring General David W. Allvin.
On 1 November 2025, the Senate confirmed Wilsbach to be the chief of staff of the Air Force.
In 2025, the Department of Defense purchased a Steinway Grand Piano worth over $98,000 for Wilsbach's government provided quarters.
On 6 March 2026 he sent a letter to the entire Air Force, the second since he became chief of staff, telling airmen to be prepared to support the war with Iran that began on 28 February 2026.
1997 Master of Aerospace Science degree, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
1998 Master of Science degree in national securities and strategic studies, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
2003 Master of Arts degree in national security strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces at National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2006 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2007 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2008 Program for Senior Executive Fellows, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2010 Joint Forces Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 CAPSTONE Executive Development Course, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2013 Coalition Forces Land Component Commander Course, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2014 End mission at Afghanistan.
2015 Syria for special duty with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Assignments
November 1985 – October 1986, student, undergraduate pilot training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
July 1987 – February 1991, F-15 instructor pilot, 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
February 1991 – July 1993, F-15 instructor pilot and APG-63/70 Test Team Manager, 84th Test Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
July 1993 – May 1996, instructor pilot and chief, weapons and tactics, 44th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
May 1996 – July 1997, aide-de-camp to Commander in Chief, Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
August 1997 – June 1998, student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
September 1998 – June 2000, assistant operations officer, and operations officer, 19th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
June 2000 – May 2002, commander, 19th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
July 2002 – June 2003, student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
July 2003 – July 2004, director of operations, Combined Air Operations Center, and director of operations, Central Command Air Forces Forward, Southwest Asia
September 2004 – May 2006, commander, 33rd Operations Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
May 2006 – April 2008, commander, 53rd Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
April 2008 – June 2009, assistant director of operations, plans, requirements and programs, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
July 2009 – June 2011, commander, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan
June 2011 – April 2013, deputy director for Operations, Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
April 2013 – April 2014, commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force; commander, NATO Air Command-Afghanistan; deputy commander-air, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan; and deputy chief of staff-air, International Security Assistance Force-Afghanistan
May 2014 – August 2016, director of operations, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
August 2016 – August 2018, commander, Alaskan Region, North American Aerospace Defense Command; commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Northern Command; and commander, 11th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
August 2018 – July 2020, deputy commander, United States Forces Korea; commander, Air Component Command, United Nations Command; commander, Air Component Command, Combined Forces Command; and commander, 7th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
July 2020 – February 2024, commander, Pacific Air Forces; air component commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; and executive director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
February 2024 – August 2025, Commander, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg)
.svg){kind=small}
