General James Hecker
Commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe
James B. Hecker was born in California. He earned an undergraduate degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He received a Master of Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He has availed himself of numerous other education opportunities afforded him by the military.
A command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, Hecker began his pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He would later serve as an instructor pilot. He was an assistant Director of Operations for the 94th Fighter Squadron, later director of Operations for the 27th Fighter Squadron, and its commander. He commanded the Third Operations Group at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. He had several assignments in Japan, and was Commander of the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force, Afghanistan, and Commander, NATO Air Command, Afghanistan.
Hecker is presently commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Commander, Air Forces Africa; Commander, Allied Air Command, headquartered in Germany; and Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center, Germany.
In the News…
General James Hecker, Commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe, recently witnessed the cyber capabilities of the 1st Air and Space Communications Operations Squadron (1st ACOS). The demonstration included leading-edge technology in modern warfare called Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control.
General Hecker said, “1 ACOS is effectively tackling some of our most challenging command and control issues. By integrating and enhancing our capabilities, they’re meeting the strategic demands of the European theater.”
