John P. Jumper

For other people named John Jumper, see John Jumper (disambiguation).

John Phillip Jumper^[1] (born February 4, 1945) is a retired United States Air Force general, who served as 17th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from September 6, 2001 to September 2, 2005. He retired from the Air Force on November 1, 2005. Jumper was succeeded as Chief of Staff by General T. Michael Moseley.

John P. Jumper
General John P. Jumper
Born	(1945-02-04) February 4, 1945 (age 78) Paris, Texas
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1966–2005
Rank	General
Unit	459th Airlift Squadron
Commands held	Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Headquarters ACC Allied Air Forces Central Europe U.S. Air Forces in Europe U.S. Central Command Air Forces Ninth Air Force 57th Fighter Weapons Wing 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Battles/wars	Afghanistan War Vietnam War
Awards	Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (received from France) Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (3) Army Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Meritorious Service Medal (3) Air Medal (18)

Air Force Chief of Staff General John P. Jumper and Secretary of the Air Force James Roche during a briefing at The Pentagon.

Background

 

Air Force Chief of Staff General John P. Jumper flies an F-22 Raptor.

 

Jumper speaking as a CEO of Leidos, September 2013

Early Life

John Jumper was born in Paris, Texas. Jumper has stated that his father General Jimmy Jefferson Jumper enlisted in the Airforce in World War II "probably for a way to get out of Paris, Texas", became a pilot, and retired as a two star general. While his father served in the occupation of Japan after World War II, John and his mother once traveled aboard a liberty ship to join his father there.^[2] John Jumper's grandfather, Delbert Lee Jumper served in the U.S. Navy during World War One and was also from Paris, Texas.^[3][4][5][6]

John went on to earn his commission as a distinguished graduate of Virginia Military Institute's 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.

Career

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.

In June 2007 Jumper joined Board of Directors of Science Applications International Corporation, a federal contractor company.^[7] On March 1, 2012 Jumper became SAIC's CEO^[8] and was essential in splitting the company into two. After the split Jumper remained the CEO of the company which changed its name to Leidos.^[9] Jumper retired as CEO in July 2014, when Roger Krone succeeded him as the company's new CEO, but Jumper stayed on as chairman of the company's board of directors.^[10]

Family

Jumper has three daughters Melissa, Catherine, and Janet. All of whom have served in the Airforce.^[11] On November 6, 2022 his daughter Catherine was promoted to Brigadier-General and Commander of the Virginia National Guard Air Component. John Jumper served as the presiding official over the ceremony.^[12]

Education

• 1962 Hampton High School (Hampton, Virginia)
• 1966 Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington
• 1975 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
• 1978 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
• 1979 Master of Business Administration degree, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California
• 1982 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

Assignments

1. June 1966 – July 1967, student pilot, 3550th Pilot Training Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia
2. July 1967 – September 1967, C-7 upgrade training, Sewart AFB, Tennessee
3. October 1967 – October 1968, C-7 pilot, 459th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam
4. November 1968 – July 1969, F-4 upgrade training, 431st Tactical Fighter Squadron, George AFB, California
5. July 1969 – May 1970, instructor pilot, weapons officer and fast forward air controller, 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand
6. June 1970 – July 1974, instructor pilot, flight examiner and standardization and evaluation chief, 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Bentwaters, England
7. July 1974 – August 1977, flight instructor, later, flight commander, U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
8. August 1977 – June 1978, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
9. June 1978 – August 1981, Staff Officer for Operations and Readiness, Tactical Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
10. August 1981 – July 1982, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. July 1982 – February 1983, Chief of Safety, 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada
12. March 1983 – July 1983, Commander, 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada
13. July 1983 – August 1986, Special Assistant and Executive Officer to the Commander, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
14. August 1986 – February 1988, Vice Commander, later, Commander, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
15. February 1988 – May 1990, Commander, 57th Fighter Weapons Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada
16. June 1990 – April 1992, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
17. May 1992 – February 1994, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.
18. February 1994 – July 1994, Special Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff for Roles and Missions, Washington, D.C.
19. August 1994 – June 1996, Commander, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
20. June 1996 – November 1997, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
21. December 1997 – February 2000, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
22. February 2000 – September 2001, Commander, Headquarters ACC, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
23. September 2001 – September 2005, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

Television

Jumper appeared as himself in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Lost City: Part 2" (S07E22).^[13]

Flight information

• Rating: Command pilot
• Flight hours: More than 5,000
• Aircraft flown: C-7, C-17, C-20, C-37, T-37, T-38, F-4, F-15, F-16, F-22A and Eurofighter Typhoon.

Awards and decorations

	Command Air Force Pilot Badge
	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters^[14]
	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters^[14]
	Army Distinguished Service Medal^[14]
	Navy Distinguished Service Medal^[14]
	Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal^[14]
	Defense Superior Service Medal^[14]
	Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster^[14]
	Distinguished Flying Cross with two bronze oak leaf clusters^[14]
	Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Medal with three silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Medal (18th consecutive award of this medal; denotes second ribbon for accouterment spacing)
	Presidential Unit Citation (Air Force) with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Presidential Unit Citation (Navy)
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
	Combat Readiness Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars
	Vietnam Service Medal with silver service star
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon
	French Legion of Honour, Commandeur Medal
	Military Meritorious Service Medal, Singapore
	Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award
	SICOFAA Legion of Merit, Officer
	Vietnam Campaign Medal

He is a recipient of the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur from France for his military services.^[15][16]

• 2000 Air Force Order of the Sword, U.S. Air Forces in Europe ()

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions

Insignia	Rank	Date
	General	November 17, 1997
	Lieutenant General	September 1, 1994
	Major General	February 1, 1992
	Brigadier General	August 1, 1989
	Colonel	October 1, 1985
	Lieutenant Colonel	October 1, 1980
	Major	January 1, 1978
	Captain	June 12, 1969
	First Lieutenant	December 12, 1967
	Second Lieutenant	June 12, 1966

Tanker Lease Scandal

On June 7, 2005 General Jumper apologized to Senator McCain for internal Air Force emails about the Senator in the context of the tanker lease scandal, calling them "unprofessional and not worthy of a great Air Force."^[17]

Thunderbirds "Thundervision" Scandal

Members of the United States Air Force were under investigation by the FBI for having awarded a $50 million contract for audio-visual presentation services to Strategic Message Solutions of Plymouth Meeting, Pa.^[18][19][20] The contract involved the "Thundervision" project, meant to provide oversized video screens and perhaps content services during air shows that featured the Air Force Thunderbirds. The investigation revolves around possible involvement of Jumper, and then Chief of Staff of the Air Force T. Michael Moseley. It was suggested that the contract price was inflated, because a friend of the two generals, Air Force General (ret.) Hal Hornburg, was associated with Strategic Message Solutions.^[21] Two companies involved in the bidding process protested award of the contract, one having offered comparable services for half as much. The Air Force later cancelled the contract.^[22]

See also

• List of commanders of USAFE

Notes

1. "Biographical and Financial Information Requested of Nominees". Hearings Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate (PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 2002. pp. 1373–1376. ISBN 9780160692970. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
2. "John P. Jumper - U. S. A. F. - Vietnam - Oral History Project". ohp.rwnaf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
3. Stephens, J.A. (September 24, 1935). "Familysearch". familysearch.org.
4. Jumper, Delbert Lee (November 11, 1957). "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940". familysearch.org.
5. "John P. Jumper - U. S. A. F. - Vietnam - Oral History Project". ohp.rwnaf.org. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
6. Drummond, Caleb (1940). "1940 Census". Familysearch.org.
7. . Archived from the original on 2013-06-12. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
8. "SAIC Announces CEO Succession".
9. Aitoro, Jill R. (27 September 2013). "What to expect from Leidos and SAIC when they start trading Sept. 30". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
10. Jayakumar, Amrita (1 July 2014). "Leidos taps Boeing executive as new CEO". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
11. "U.S. Air Force: A family business". Sheppard Air Force Base. 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
12. "Jumper promoted to brigadier general, takes command of VaANG". DVIDS. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
13. "IMDB Cast listing for episode "The Lost City: Part 2"". IMDb. lists John P. Jumper playing himself
14. "John P. Jumper". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
15. "Air Force doctor receives France's highest decoration". Air Force. 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
16. "Air Force doctor receives France's highest decoration". Air Force. 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
17. Report Faults Air Force on Proposed Boeing Deal
18. The San Francisco Chronicle http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/05/19/national/w141413D78.DTL. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
19. . Archived from the original on 2006-11-09. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
20. . Archived from the original on 2006-07-02. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
21. . Archived from the original on May 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
22. . Archived from the original on 2006-11-09. Retrieved 2006-11-11.

External links

• Biography of General Jumper, USAF, September 2005.
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Interview with General Jumper: Air Force Transformation, Military Aerospace Technology, May 1, 2002.
• First-year cadet criticizes USAF Chief of Staff's personnel decisions, Snopes, March 26, 2003.
• , September 16, 2003.
• , February 12, 2004.

Military offices
Preceded by Gen. Michael E. Ryan	Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force 2001–2005	Succeeded by Gen. T. Michael Moseley