Brig. Gen. John B. Creel is the Deputy Commander, Air Forces Southern, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. As the Air Force component to U.S. Southern Command, Air Forces Southern conducts security cooperation and provides air, space and cyberspace capabilities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Brig. Gen. Creel began his military career in 1985 as an enlisted helicopter mechanic in the Army. He then attended helicopter flight training and flew the UH-60 Black Hawk as a warrant officer. After 15 years, he separated from the Army, joined the Air Force, and graduated Officer Training School in 2000. He has held positions at the squadron, group, wing, deployed Joint Force Command and Combatant Command levels. Brig. Gen. Creel’s operational tours include operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He holds an undergraduate degree in professional aeronautics and two graduate degrees in Business Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a third graduate degree in Strategic Studies from the Marine Corps War College. Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Creel served as the Senior Special Assistant to the Commander of United States European Command and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Brussels, Belgium.
EDUCATION
1987 U.S. Army Warrant Officer Entry Course, Fort Rucker, Ala.
1988 U.S. Army Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Fort Rucker Ala.
1997 U.S. Army Warrant Officer Advanced Course, Fort Rucker, Ala.
1999 Bachelor’s Degree, Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Extended Campus
2000 Master of Business Administration in Aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Extended Campus
2000 U.S. Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2002 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2006 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Extended Campus
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Strategic Policy Fellowship, Washington, D.C.
2012 Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2018 Marine Corps War College, Quantico, Va.
2020 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2023 Combined Forces Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1987–June 1988, Warrant Officer Candidate and Flight Student, Fort Rucker, Ala.
2. June 1988–August 1989, UH-1 Pilot, 2348th Heavy Lift Helicopter Company, Meridian, Miss.
3. September 1989–May 1993, UH-60 Flight Lead, C/5-101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.
4. August 1993–September 1994, UH-60 Instructor Pilot, HHC/6-6th Cavalry Squadron, Illesheim, Germany
5. October 1994–June 1997, UH-60 Standardization Officer and Instrument Flight Examiner, A/158th Aviation, Wiesbaden, Germany
6. July 1997–June 1998, UH-60 Instructor Pilot Course Section Leader, C/212th Aviation Regiment, Fort Rucker, Ala.
7. July 1998–July 2000, UH-60 Standardization Officer and Instrument Flight Examiner, Aviation Training Brigade, Fort Rucker, Ala.
8. October 2000–June 2002, Plans Officer, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
9. December 2002–June 2005, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
10. June 2005–April 2010, Student Flight Commander, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
11. April 2010–December 2010, J3 Air, Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan
12. December 2010–May 2011, Executive Officer to the Commanding General, Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan
13. July 2011–June 2012, Fellow, Air Force Strategic Policy, Air Education and Training Command, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2012–March 2013, Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands, Air Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. March 2013–June 2013, Liaison Officer, Presidential Information Coordination Center, Presidential Palace and Headquarters International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Afghanistan
16. July 2013–October 2014, Director of Operations, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
17. October 2014–June 2015, Director of Operations, 347th Operational Support Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
18. June 2015–July 2017, Commander, 34th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
19. June 2017–July 2018, Student, Marine Corps War College, Quantico, Va.
20. July 2018–July 2020, Commander, 347th Rescue Group, Moody AFB, Ga.
21. July 2020–July 2021, Commander, 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
22. August 2021–July 2022, Executive Officer to Supreme Allied Command Europe, Commander U.S. European Command, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Brussels, Belgium
23. August 2022–June 2023, Senior Special Assistant to SACEUR, SHAPE, Brussels, Belgium
24. July 2023–present, Deputy Commander, Air Forces Southern, U.S. Southern Command, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2010–December 2010, J3 Air, Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan, as a major
2. December 2010–May 2011, Executive Officer to the Commanding General, Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan, as a major
3. June 2012–March 2013, Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands, Air Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a major
4. March 2013–June 2013, Liaison Officer, Presidential Information Coordination Center, Presidential Palace and Headquarters International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Afghanistan, as a major
5. August 2021–July 2022, Executive Officer to Supreme Allied Command Europe, Commander U.S. European Command, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Brussels, Belgium, as a colonel
6. August 2022–June 2023, Senior Special Assistant to SACEUR, SHAPE, Brussels, Belgium, as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: more than 7,500 hours
Aircraft Flown: TH-55, UH-1H, UH-60A/L and HH-60G
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Device with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Combat Action Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Warrant Officer One June 9, 1988
Chief Warrant Officer Two June 9, 1990
Chief Warrant Officer Three May 1, 1996
Second Lieutenant Sept. 29, 2000
First Lieutenant Sept. 29, 2002
Captain Sept. 29, 2004
Major Aug. 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 1, 2013
Colonel May 1, 2018
Brigadier General Sept. 3, 2024
(Current as of September 2024)