Derek France

Derek Charles France (born ) is a retired American lieutenant general who has served as the commander of the Ninth Air Force since 2024. He previously served as the commander of Third Air Force from 2022 to 2024.

France graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1992. He has achieved the rating of command pilot with over 2,900 flight hours on the F-15, the F-22A, and the F-16C; and has served as an instructor pilot at the United States Air Force Weapons School and the Royal Saudi Air Force Fighter Weapons School. His commands have included the 43rd Fighter Squadron, 3rd Operations Group, 325th Fighter Wing, and 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.

France has directed airstrikes during the 2026 Iran war.

Early life and education Derek Charles France was born to a military family, with his father serving in the United States Air Force. France received his commission in 1992 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering studies.

France was an instructor pilot, flight commander, and weapons officer at the F-15C Division of the USAF Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, from June 2000 to July 2004. He completed the Air Command and Staff College by correspondence in 2003. He was later an instructor pilot at the Royal Saudi Air Force Fighter Weapons School in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, from August 2004 to June 2005. France was a student at the College of Naval Command and Staff in Newport, Rhode Island, from July 2005 to June 2006, and also earned a Master of Science degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in 2006. He has the Air Force rating of command pilot with over 2,900 flight hours on the F-15, the F-22A, and the F-16C.

France was the Senior Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force at The Pentagon from July 2016 to July 2017, Commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing until July 2018 at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, and deputy director of operations of United States Central Command until June 2020 at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. France was the director of operations of the Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration for Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa between June 2020 and June 2022. In June 2022, he became commander of the Third Air Force at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, a role in which he oversaw the Air Force's regional response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In March 2024, France was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and appointment as commander of the Ninth Air Force. He took office as commander of Ninth Air Force, Air Forces Central, becoming the Joint Force Air Component Commander of U.S. Central Command on 18 April 2024.

Dates of promotion + Rank Branch Date Second lieutenant Air Force 27 May 1992 First lieutenant 27 May 1994 Captain 27 May 1996 Major 1 November 2002 Lieutenant colonel 1 August 2007 Colonel 1 September 2011 Brigadier general 2 September 2017 Major general 4 August 2020 Lieutenant general 18 April 2024