The Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (VCSAF) is the second highest ranking military officer in the United States Air Force

United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...

. In the event that the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF) is absent or is unable to perform his duties, the VCSAF assumes the duties and responsibilities of the CSAF. The VCSAF may also perform other duties that the Secretary of Defense

United States Secretary of Defense

The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...

 (SECDEF), the Secretary of the Air Force

United States Secretary of the Air Force

The Secretary of the Air Force is the Head of the Department of the Air Force, a component organization within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Secretary of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate...

 (SECAF) or the CSAF assigns to him. The VCSAF is appointed by the President of the United States

President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

 and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

. By statute, the VCSAF is appointed as a four-star general

General (United States)

In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...

.

The current Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force is General Philip M. Breedlove

Philip M. Breedlove

Philip Mark Breedlove is a four-star general in the United States Air Force and the 36th and current Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He assumed his current assignment on January 14, 2011.-Early life:...

.

List of Vice Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force (1947–)

Vice Chiefs of Staff

Number	Name	Portrait	Tenure
1	Hoyt S. Vandenberg		1947–1948
2	Muir S. Fairchild Muir S. Fairchild General Muir Stephen Fairchild was former vice chief of staff of the United States Air Force. He was born September 2, 1894 at Bellingham, Washington, and died March 17, 1950 at Fort Myer, Virginia.-Early service:Muir S...		1948–1950
3	Nathan F. Twining		1950–1953
4	Thomas D. White Thomas D. White General Thomas Dresser White was the fourth Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.White was born in Walker, Minnesota, in 1901...		1953–1957
5	Curtis E. LeMay		1957–1961
6	Frederic H. Smith, Jr. Frederic H. Smith, Jr. Frederic Harrison Smith, Jr. was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe from 1959 to 1961; and Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force from 1961 to 1962.Smith was born at Fort Monroe, Virginia, in 1908...		1961–1962
7	William F. McKee William F. McKee William Fulton McKee was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander, Air Force Logistics Command from 1961 to 1962; and Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1964...		1962–1964
8	John P. McConnell John P. McConnell General John Paul McConnell was the sixth Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, General McConnell served in a dual capacity...		1964–1965
9	William H. Blanchard William H. Blanchard General William Hugh Blanchard was a United States Air Force officer who attained the rank of four star general and served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1966....		1965–1966
10	Bruce K. Holloway Bruce K. Holloway General Bruce Keener Holloway was an American Air Force general. A West Point graduate, he was a World War II fighter ace and later the commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command .-Early life and career:...		1966–1968
11	John D. Ryan John Dale Ryan General John Dale Ryan was the seventh Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, General Ryan served in a dual capacity...		1968–1969
12	John C. Meyer John C. Meyer General John Charles Meyer was an American World War II flying ace, and later the commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command and director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska...		1969–1972
13	Horace M. Wade Horace M. Wade Horace Milton Wade was a former General in the United States Air Force and a former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.-Early life:...		1972–1973
14	Richard H. Ellis Richard H. Ellis General Richard Hastings Ellis was commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command and director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff with headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska...		1973–1975
15	William V. McBride William V. McBride William Vincent McBride is a former General in the United States Air Force and the former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.-Early life:McBride was born in Wampum, Pennsylvania in 1922...		1975–1978
16	Lew Allen, Jr.		1978
17	James A. Hill James A. Hill General James Arthur Hill was a U.S. Air Force four star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.He was born in 1923 in Lancaster, Ohio Orphaned at sixteen, he graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1940 and attended Ohio State University in 1942...		1978–1980
18	Robert C. Mathis Robert C. Mathis General Robert Couth Mathis is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force from 1980 to 1982.-Biography:...		1980–1982
19	Jerome F. O'Malley Jerome F. O'Malley General Jerome Francis O'Malley was a United States Air Force four star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force from 1982 to 1983; Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces from 1983 to 1984; and Commander, Tactical Air Command from 1984 to 1985...		1982–1983
20	Lawrence A. Skantze Lawrence A. Skantze General Lawrence Albert Skantze is a retired United States Air Force four star general and was commander, Air Force Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland....		1983–1984
21	Larry D. Welch Larry D. Welch General Larry D. Welch was the 12th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipage of a combined active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian force serving at locations in the United...		1984–1985
22	John L. Piotrowski John L. Piotrowski General John Louis Piotrowski is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force , from 1985 to 1987; and Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S...		1985–1987
23	Monroe W. Hatch, Jr. Monroe W. Hatch Jr. Monroe W. Hatch Jr. is a former General in the United States Air Force and the former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.-Early life:Hatch was born in 1933, in New Orleans, Louisiana...		1987–1990
24	John M. Loh John M. Loh John Michael Loh is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force who last served as Commander, Air Combat Command from June 1992 to July 1995...		1990–1991
25	Michael P.C. Carns Michael P.C. Carns Michael Patrick Chamberlain Carns was the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1991 to 1994.-Early life:Carns was born in Junction City, Kansas. After graduating from St. John's College High School, Washington, D.C...		1991–1994
26	Thomas S. Moorman, Jr. Thomas S. Moorman, Jr. Thomas S. Moorman Jr. served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from July 1994 to August 1997.-Background:...		1994–1997
27	Ralph Eberhart Ralph Eberhart General Ralph Edward "Ed" Eberhart was Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He was in charge of NORAD on 9/11....		1997–1999
28	Lester L. Lyles		1999–2000
29	John W. Handy John W. Handy General John W. Handy was Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, and Commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois from October 2001 until September 2005. General Handy retired effective October 1, 2005....		2000–2001
30	Robert H. Foglesong Robert H. Foglesong General Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong formerly of Williamson, West Virginia is a former President of Mississippi State University. He served in the United States Air Force from April 1972 until retirement as general in February 2006...		2001–2003
31	T. Michael Moseley T. Michael Moseley Teed Michael Moseley, , is a retired United States Air Force General who served as the 18th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force...		2003–2005
32	John D.W. Corley John D.W. Corley John Donald Wesley Corley is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force. He previously served as the commander of Air Combat Command from October 2007 to September 10, 2009 and as the 32nd Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from September 2005 to September 2007...		2005–2007
33	Duncan J. McNabb		September 2007 - September 5, 2008
34	William M. Fraser III William M. Fraser III General William M. Fraser III, USAF is the 10th and current Commander, U.S. Transportation Command. He previously served as Commander, Air Combat Command from September 10, 2009 to September 30, 2011...		October 9, 2008 - August 27, 2009
35	Carrol H. Chandler Carrol Chandler Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler , is a retired United States Air Force four-star general. He last served as the 35th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from August 27, 2009 to Junuary 14, 2011...		August 27, 2009 - January 14, 2011
36	Philip M. Breedlove Philip M. Breedlove Philip Mark Breedlove is a four-star general in the United States Air Force and the 36th and current Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He assumed his current assignment on January 14, 2011.-Early life:...		January 14, 2011-incumbent