David Goldfein is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 21st Chief of Staff of the Air Force from July 2016 to July 2020. He was responsible for overseeing the organization, training, and equipping of over 685,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces. Goldfein played a key role in modernizing the Air Force and enhancing its capabilities in response to evolving global threats. During his military career, Goldfein held various leadership positions, including commander of the U.S. Air Forces Central Command and director of the Joint Staff. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and has accumulated over 4,000 flying hours, including combat missions.