Major General JUSTIN R. HOFFMAN
Maj. Gen. Justin R. Hoffman is the Deputy Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida. The command is the Air Force component of U.S. Special Operations Command. AFSOC provides Air Force Special Operations Forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to unified combatant commanders with approximately 20,800 active duty, Reserve, Air National Guard, and civilian professionals.
Maj. Gen. Hoffman was born in Austin, Texas and earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1995. He spent most of his career in special operations aviation assignments, deploying extensively.
Prior to this assignment, he served as Deputy Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Liberty, N.C. In this role, he oversaw the study of special operations requirements to solve time-sensitive and complex problems for the nation.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Behavioral Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Master of Science, Business Administration, Touro University International, Cypress, Calif.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Master of Science, Defense Analysis, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa. 2019 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
1995 Bachelor of Science, Behavioral Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Master of Science, Business Administration, Touro University International, Cypress, Calif.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Master of Science, Defense Analysis, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa. 2019 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1995–November 1996, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas
2. November 1996–December 1997, Student, C-130E/MC-130H Initial Mission Qualification Course, Little Rock AFB, Ark. and Kirtland AFB, N.M.
3. December 1997–January 2002, Executive Officer & Aircraft Commander, 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. January 2002–December 2004, Deputy Chief of Safety & Evaluator Pilot, 352nd Special Operations Group, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom
5. December 2004–June 2007, Chief of Flight Safety & Evaluator Pilot, Special Operations Squadron
6. July 2007–December 2008, Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
7. January 2009–April 2010, Operations Officer, 319th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
8. April 2010–June 2012, Commander, 34th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
9. June 2012–June 2013, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
10. June 2013–June 2015, J3 Operations Director & Deputy Commander, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.
11. July 2015–May 2017, Commander, 27th Special Operations Group, Cannon AFB, N.M.
12. May 2017–May 2018, Vice Commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force, Afghanistan
13. July 2018–July 2020, Commander, 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
14. August 2020–August 2021, Director of Legislative Affairs, U.S. Special Operations Command, Washington, D.C.
15. August 2021–August 2023, Director, Strategic Plans, Programs, Requirements, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hulburt Field, Fla.
16. August 2023–April 2024, Special Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2. November 1996–December 1997, Student, C-130E/MC-130H Initial Mission Qualification Course, Little Rock AFB, Ark. and Kirtland AFB, N.M.
3. December 1997–January 2002, Executive Officer & Aircraft Commander, 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. January 2002–December 2004, Deputy Chief of Safety & Evaluator Pilot, 352nd Special Operations Group, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom
5. December 2004–June 2007, Chief of Flight Safety & Evaluator Pilot, Special Operations Squadron
6. July 2007–December 2008, Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
7. January 2009–April 2010, Operations Officer, 319th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
8. April 2010–June 2012, Commander, 34th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
9. June 2012–June 2013, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
10. June 2013–June 2015, J3 Operations Director & Deputy Commander, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.
11. July 2015–May 2017, Commander, 27th Special Operations Group, Cannon AFB, N.M.
12. May 2017–May 2018, Vice Commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force, Afghanistan
13. July 2018–July 2020, Commander, 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
14. August 2020–August 2021, Director of Legislative Affairs, U.S. Special Operations Command, Washington, D.C.
15. August 2021–August 2023, Director, Strategic Plans, Programs, Requirements, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hulburt Field, Fla.
16. August 2023–April 2024, Special Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
17. April 2024-September 2024, Deputy Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Liberty, N.C.
18. September 2024-present, Deputy Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2013–June 2015, J3 Operations Director & Deputy Commander, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a lieutenant colonel
2. May 2017–May 2018, Assistant to Deputy Commander – Air, U. S. Forces – Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan, as a colonel
3. August 2020–August 2021, Director of Legislative Affairs, U.S. Special Operations Command, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
1. June 2013–June 2015, J3 Operations Director & Deputy Commander, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a lieutenant colonel
2. May 2017–May 2018, Assistant to Deputy Commander – Air, U. S. Forces – Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan, as a colonel
3. August 2020–August 2021, Director of Legislative Affairs, U.S. Special Operations Command, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 5,500 including more than 1,800 combat hours
Aircraft flown: MC-130H/J, U-28A, and others
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross with “V” device
Distinguished Flying Cross with “V” device
Bronze Star Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Action Ribbon
Air Medal with two silver oak leaf clusters and two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two silver oak leaf clusters and two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
(Current as of September 2024)
