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Inducted September 2014
In recognition of service to the nation as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, serving as an advocate and outspoken supporter for the use of modeling and simulation in the development of Distributed Mission Training (DMT) and Distributed Mission Operations (DMO). A true visionary, General Jumper’s championing of DMT and DMO ensured that aircrews and ground forces would have the most realistic and challenging scenarios available to prepare them for complex missions.
John P. Jumper was born in Paris, Texas. He earned his commission as a distinguished graduate of Virginia Military Institute’s (VMI) Air Force ROTC program in 1966. He has commanded a fighter squadron, two fighter wings, a numbered Air Force, and U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Allied Air Forces Central Europe. Prior to becoming Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the general served as Commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base.
Jumper has also served at the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, as the Senior Military Assistant to two secretaries of defense, and as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Roles and Missions. A command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, principally in fighter aircraft, Jumper served two tours in Southeast Asia, accumulating more than 1,400 combat hours.
Jumper retired from the Air Force on November 1, 2005.
General John P. Jumper was Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. As Chief, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipage of more than 700,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the general and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President.
He has also served at the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, as the Senior Military Assistant to two secretaries of defense, and as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Roles and Missions. General Jumper has been involved in numerous major combat and contingency operations since he entered service in 1966. He served two tours of duty in Southeast Asia. He was the commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces during operations Northern and Southern Watch, and the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe during Operation Allied Force. His tour as Chief of Staff has spanned operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He was a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, including 1,400 combat hours.
John P. Jumper earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI in 1966. Following a distinguished 39-year career, he retired in 2005 as the 17th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. In his four years as the senior uniformed official in America’s air and space service, General Jumper led more than 700,000 men and women through the Global War of Terrorism, force modernization, and strategic transformation. Among his many assignments were commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Allied Air Forces Central Europe, and senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense. Working with his civilian and military colleagues, he administered annual budgets of more than $100 billion and oversaw the delivery of numerous air and space combat support systems. He was a fighter pilot, commanded an F-16 fighter squadron, commanded two fighter wings, and accumulated 5,000 flying hours including more than 1,400 combat hours in Vietnam and Iraq. He earned a master of business administration degree from Golden Gate University.
General Jumper was selected to the Board of Trustees of the VMI Foundation, Inc. in 2008, has served as the Air Force Commissioning Officer during several VMI commencements, and has spoken on numerous occasions at VMI to include being the keynote speaker at the Institute Society Dinner in 2001.
On February 21, 2012, it was announced Jumper would take on the role of CEO of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) starting March 1, 2012. Jumper joined SAIC’s Board of Directors in June 2007. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Goodrich Corporation, NACCO Industries, Inc., WESCO Aircraft Hardware Corporation and Rolls-Royce North America Holdings, Inc. General Jumper’s service on the non-profit boards includes the Air Force Village Charitable Foundation and the Aerospace Industrial Association. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to the Governor’s Commission on Military and National Security Facilities.
Gen. John P. Jumper has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of SAIC Inc., since March, 2012 and has been its Chairman of the Board since June 15, 2012. Gen. Jumper has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of Science Applications International Corporation since March 2003. He serves as Advisor of Emergent Views, Inc. Gen. Jumper was a Senior Adviser at the Four Star Group. He served as a Senior Advisor of The Carlyle Group. He focused on U.S. Buyout within Corporate Private Equity. Gen. Jumper advised on matters concerning aerospace, defense, industrial, transportation, and automotive business areas. Gen. Jumper joined the private sector in November 2005 after serving 39 years in the Air Force. Gen. Jumper served as the Chief of Staff of United States Air Force; Senior military officer, and Senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for organization, training, and equipping of active-duty, guard, reserve, and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas from September 2001 to November 1, 2005. He served as a Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff providing military advice to the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council and served as its President. Gen. Jumper served as a Commander of Headquarters Air Combat Control at Langley Air Force Base from February 2000 and September 2001 and as a Commander, Air Combat Command from 2000 to 2001. He served as a Deputy Director of Politico-Military Affairs, Strategic Plans and Policy directorate, for the Joint Staff in Washington. He served as a Senior Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense in 1992 and Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe in 1997. He also commanded Air Combat Command at the four star level. Gen. Jumper served as a Senior Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense Mr. Dick Cheney and Secretary Mr. Les Aspin and in the policy directorate of the Joint Staff. He has extensive experience in high level leadership roles gained during his distinguished 39-year military career which included domestic and overseas assignments. He has been the Chairman of Science Applications International Corporation and also has been its Director since June 2012 & Since 2007. He has been a Director of Nacco Industries Inc. since January 01, 2012 and Wesco Aircraft Hardware Corp. since 2007. He has been a Director of SAIC, Inc. since June 08, 2007 and Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. since 2012. He serves as a Member of the Advisory Board of the Four Star Group. He serves as a Director of NACCO Industries, Inc. Gen. Jumper has been a Director of Triumph Aerostructures, LLC since June 7, 2006. Gen. Jumper serves on Board of Directors of Rolls-Royce North America. He serves as a Member of Advisory Board of PlatinumSolutions Inc., HBW Services, LLC and United Dairy, Inc. Gen. Jumper has been a Director of SAIC, Inc. since June 08, 2007. He served as a Director of Wesco Aircraft Holdings, Inc, from 2007 to March 25, 2013. He served as a Director of Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH from December 2005 to July 2012. He served as a Director of TechTeam Global Inc. since June 2006. Gen. Jumper served as a Director of Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. from February 26, 2007 to February 21, 2012. He was a Director of The Four Star Group, LLC. He served as a Director of Somanetics Corporation since June 13, 2007. Gen. Jumper serves on non-profit Boards of Air Force Association and Air Force Village Charitable. He is a combat veteran of Vietnam and Iraq. General Jumper graduated from Virginia Military Institute with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He received an MBA degree from Golden Gate University in San Francisco and is a graduate of the National War College.
The annual Gen. John P. Jumper Award is based on the integration of Air Force warfighting or operations support capabilities that shorten the kill chain or enhance the decision cycle.
General Jumper and his wife Ellen live in Spotsylvania, Virginia and have three grown daughters who have served in the Air Force, one still on active duty.
