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Gerald Goodfellow

USAF general

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About Gerald Goodfellow

Gerald Goodfellow was an American.

Gerald V. Goodfellow is a retired United States Air Force brigadier general, and the current Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Consulting Corporation. Goodfellow was commissioned in 1989 through the University of New Mexico Air Force ROTC program. Goodfellow has flown a wide variety of military aircraft, but primarily the B-1 Bomber. In 1995, Goodfellow flew a non-stop flight around the world that set two world records. For that flight Goodfellow won the Mackay Trophy for the U.S. Air Force's most meritorious flight of the year. Goodfellow has commanded at flight, squadron, group, and wing levels, and was the Commander and Commandant at the U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer College. In his last assignment he was director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Prior to that, he was the Director of the Nuclear Enterprise Directorate at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Air Force career Goodfellow completed undergraduate navigator training at Mather Air Force Base in 1990 with follow-on training at the KC-135 Combat Crew Training Squadron at Castle Air Force Base in 1991. In July 1991, Goodfellow reported to the 917th Air Refueling Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base as a KC-135 navigator. In October 1993 Goodfellow was chosen for transition to the B-1 Bomber as an offensive systems officer. After retraining Goodfellow joined the 9th Bomb Squadron.

While with the 9th Bomb Squadron, Goodfellow was chosen to participate in a mission called Coronet Bat. During the mission, two B-1s flew around the world non-stop with air refueling and practice bombing missions hitting ranges in Europe, Asia, and North America. This mission set a world aviation record for "Nonstop Speed Around-the-World with refueling in flight". Coronet Bat was deemed the U.S. Air Force's most meritorious flight of 1995, earning the members of the flight crews the Mackay Trophy. Goodfellow and the members of the crew were awarded the 1999 General Ira C. Eaker Award for an Outstanding Single Feat of Military Airmanship in the Eighth Air Force.

From June 2003 to May 2005, Goodfellow served as the chief of Wargaming Branch, Operational Plans and Joint Matters Directorate under the deputy chief of staff for air and space operations at the Headquarters of the U.S. Air Force at The Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Goodfellow was responsible for executing the Air Force Chief of Staff’s annual Title 10 Wargame. While serving in this capacity, Goodfellow was named the 2004 Deputy Chief of Staff, Air and Space Operations, Air Force Association Action Officer of the Year. Following his assignment with the Air Staff, Goodfellow next commanded Air Combat Command Training Support Squadron Detachment 1, the largest training support squadron in Air Combat Command. He subsequently stayed on at the Army War College as a professor of strategy and director, joint doctrine. While serving as the wing's commander, an Air Force investigation found that the wing's vice commander had engaged in an inappropriate relationship, and sent inappropriate emails to a subordinate's wife. The incident cast the vice commander, and his judgement, in a negative light. Goodfellow made the decision to relieve his vice commander due to a "loss of confidence in his ability to lead" the unit. Goodfellow relinquished command of the 12th Flying Training Wing to Colonel Matthew C. Isler on 25 June 2014.

In July 2014, Goodfellow became the commander of Squadron Officer College and commandant of Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base.

In August 2016, Goodfellow became the director of Nuclear Enterprise Support Directorate (J10) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. J10 directly supports the Department of Defense and interagency nuclear enterprise stakeholders on safety, security, and effectiveness of the US nuclear deterrent force. J10 is also charged with warfighter support to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Combatant Commanders, and the military services to counter current and potential threats posed to the US and allied forces by weapons of mass destruction.

In his final military assignment, Goodfellow was the director of strategic plans, programs and requirements for Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base. In this position Goodfellow was in charge of strategic planning to establish requirements and programming advocacy for the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile force, B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, UH-1N helicopters, the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center Aircraft, as well as Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications systems.

Awards and decorations Goodfellow has been awarded the following awards and decorations: Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor device Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster 1995 Mackay Trophy, U.S. Air Force's most meritorious flight of the year 1995 World Record Aviation, Nonstop Speed Around-the-World with refueling in flight 1995 Outstanding Graduate, B-1 Central Flight Instructor Course 1996 Distinguished Graduate, B-1 Weapon System Officer Training 1999 General Ira C. Eaker Award, Outstanding Single Feat of Military Airmanship in 8th Air Force 2004 Deputy Chief of Staff, Air and Space Operations, Air Force Association Action Officer of the Year

Education As a student at the University of New Mexico, Goodfellow earned a Bachelor of Science in economics in 1989. In 1996, he earned a Master of Aerospace Management degree from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. In 2003, he completed a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University. In 2008, Goodfellow completed a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

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Important facts

Nationality
Education
University of New Mexico
Awards
Legionnaire of Legion of Merit; Defense Superior Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross (United States); Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Mackay Trophy

Frequently asked questions

Who was Gerald Goodfellow?

USAF general

What nationality was Gerald Goodfellow?

Gerald Goodfellow was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Gerald Goodfellow

· Wikidata: Q20714757

· DBpedia: Gerald Goodfellow

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gerald Goodfellow. https://biography.guide/gerald-goodfellow/

MLA: "Gerald Goodfellow." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gerald-goodfellow/.

Chicago: "Gerald Goodfellow." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gerald-goodfellow/.

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