MAJOR GENERAL CHRISTOPHER J. SHEPPARD
Maj. Gen. Christopher J. Sheppard is the Director of Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. PACAF’s primary mission is to provide ready air and space power to promote United States interests in the Indo-Pacific region during peacetime, through crisis, and in war. He supports the Commander Pacific Air Forces by overseeing a portfolio including strategy, operational plans, international relations, theater security cooperation, and resource programming.
General Sheppard received his commission in 1996 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He completed Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training in 1998, and has since held a variety of operational, command and leadership positions in the Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force.
General Sheppard has significant operational and staff experience having served in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, NORTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, NEW DAWN and NOBEL EAGLE. Prior to his current position, he served as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Business Management, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colo.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2006 Master of Business Administration, International Business, Thunderbird, Glendale, Ariz.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Advanced Command and Staff College, United Kingdom Ministry of Defense, Shrivenham, United Kingdom
2020 Regional Seminar, China and The Far East, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2021 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan–Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2021 Regional Seminar, Africa, Alan L. Freed Associates, Alexandria, Va.
2022 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2022 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2024 Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander Course 24-3C, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1996 - January 1997, 94th Flying Training Squadron, USAFA, Colo.
2. January 1997 - March 1998, Student Pilot, Euro–NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. March 1998 - April 1998, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 435th Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
4. April 1998 - February 1999, Student, F-16 Pilot Training, 63d Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. February 1999 - February 2000, F-16 Pilot, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
6. February 2000 - September 2002, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Fighter Enhancement Program Manager, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 55th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
7. September 2002 - March 2006, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 63d Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
8. March 2006 - March 2009, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 121st Fighter Squadron, Joint Base Andrews (JBA), Md.
9. March 2009 - March 2012, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 121st Fighter Squadron, JBA, Md.
10. March 2012 - July 2015, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Commander 113th Operations Support Squadron, JBA, Md.
11. July 2015 - December 2017, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Deputy Commander, 113th Operations Group, JBA, Md.
12. December 2017 - December 2018, C-40 Pilot, Vice Wing Commander, 113th Wing, JBA, Md.
13. December 2018 - August 2020, Special Assistant to the Commander, District of Columbia Air National Guard, D.C. Joint Force Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
14. August 2020 - May 2021, Division Chief, Force Planning, Basing, Conversions, National Guard Bureau, JBA, Md.
15. May 2021 - May 2022, Deputy Director, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, National Guard Bureau, JBA, Md.
16. May 2022 - March 2025, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations (J3), United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
17. February 2025 - July 2025, Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) , Hickam AFB, HI
18. July 2025 - Present, Director of Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2022 - March 2025, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations (J3), United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, as a major general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,900 including more than 230 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-16, C-40, T-37, T-38, AT-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with eight oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 1996
First Lieutenant May 29, 1998
Captain May 29, 2000
Major April 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 27, 2011
Colonel June 21, 2016
Brigadier General Feb. 24, 2022
Major General Feb. 15, 2025
(Current as of September 2025)
