Former Air Force Chief of Staff Goldfein Named Senior Fellow at Johns Hopkins APL

Gen. David L. Goldfein, former chief of staff of the Air Force, has joined the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, as a Senior Fellow.

Goldfein’s term as the 21st chief of staff ended in August 2020 after four years in the role, and he retired from service in October. As chief of staff, he was responsible for organizing, training and equipping 685,000 active-duty, guard and reserve forces and civilians serving in the Air Force worldwide.

As a Senior Fellow, Goldfein will share expertise to help maximize APL’s technological contributions to critical national challenges, including readiness, strategic deterrence and space operations.

“We are honored to welcome General Goldfein to the Laboratory as a Senior Fellow,” said APL Director Ralph Semmel. “His significant experience as a pilot, commander and thought leader will be invaluable as we continue to develop transformational technologies with their ultimate impact in mind.”

Goldfein previously served as Air Force vice chief of staff and director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. He was commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command in Southwest Asia from 2011 to 2013 and has also held command positions at air bases in New Mexico and Idaho, as well as overseas in Germany and Italy.

Goldfein has flown combat missions in operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Allied Force and Enduring Freedom. A rated command pilot, he has logged more than 4,200 flight hours in T‑37, T‑38, F‑16C/D, F‑117A, MQ‑9 and MC‑12W aircraft.

Over his 37-year career, Goldfein has been awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, among other major awards and decorations.

Goldfein received his commission from the Air Force Academy in 1983, earning his undergraduate degree in philosophy. He later received an MBA from Oklahoma City University and completed a National Defense Fellowship with the State Department.

APL’s Senior Fellows are distinguished experts in national security and space who work with technical experts at the Laboratory to better inform technology and policy decisions made by U.S. military leaders and senior government officials.