Beyond the Blue: Fighter pilot and visionary leader
Meet Jeannie Leavitt
Major General (ret) Jeannie M. Leavitt entered the Air Force in 1992 after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University. She earned her commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. She graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training in January of 1993 and became the first female fighter pilot for the United States Air Force in April of 1993 when the Department of Defense changed the combat exclusion policy.
General Leavitt has served in a variety of flying, staff, and command assignments. As Commander, Air Force Safety Center—and Chief of Safety for the Air Force and Space Force—she developed, directed, and evaluated all aviation, ground, weapons, space and system mishap prevention and nuclear surety programs. As Director of Operations and Communications, Air Education and Training Command, she was responsible for providing initial skills, undergraduate flying, post graduate combat crew and supplemental training for more than 300,000 Air Force, Space Force, joint, and international personnel at 65 Air Force and Department of Defense locations.
Other positions General Leavitt held include Air Force Recruiting Service Commander, 57th Wing Commander, Principal Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, and 4th Fighter Wing Commander. Additional graduate degrees she earned include a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University, a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University, and a Master of National Security Strategy from the National War College, National Defense University.
Her extensive experience in wartime, contingency and humanitarian relief operations include Operations Southern and Northern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. She is a command pilot with more than 3,000 hours, including 300+ hours in combat. General Leavitt is a graduate and former F-15E instructor pilot of the United States Air Force Weapons School.
1990 Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering, University of Texas, Austin
1991 Master of Science, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1998 Weapons Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2002 Master of Business Administration, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2010 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2010 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2012 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
2012 Seminar XXI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
2021 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Warrenton, Va.
January 1992–March 1993: Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
March 1993–July 1993: T-38 Instructor Pilot Upgrade Trainee, Vance AFB, Okla.
July 1993–April 1994: Student, F-15E Formal Training Course, 555th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
April 1994–January 1998: Instructor Pilot, Training Officer, later Assistant Chief of Weapons, then Assistant Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
January 1998–July 1998: Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, F-15E Division, Nellis AFB, Nev.
July 1998–June 2001: F-15E Instructor Pilot, Assistant Chief, then Chief of Weapons and Tactics, later Flight Commander, then Assistant Operations Officer, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
June 2001–August 2003: F-15E Instructor Pilot, Wing Standardization and Evaluation Examiner, 57th Operations Group, later Academics Flight Commander, then Assistant Operations Officer for Academics, 17th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
August 2003–July 2004: Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
July 2004–September 2005: Chief of Special Technical Operations, U.S. Forces Korea, Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul, South Korea
September 2005–April 2007: Chief of Master Air Attack Plans, 609th Combat Plans Squadron, 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Shaw AFB, S.C.
April 2007–July 2009: Assistant Director of Operations, 334th Fighter Squadron, later Commander, 333rd Fighter Squadron, then Special Assistant to the 4th Operations Group Commander, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
July 2009–June 2010: Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
July 2010–May 2012: Air Force Chief of Staff Fellow, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
June 2012–June 2014: Commander, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
June 2014–April 2016: Principal Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
April 2016–June 2018: Commander, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
June 2018–June 2020: Commander, Air Force Recruiting Service, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
June 2020–August 2021: Director of Operations and Communications, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
August 2021–September 2023: Department of the Air Force Chief of Safety, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va., and Commander, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
July 2004–September 2005: Chief of Special Technical Operations, U.S. Forces Korea, Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul, South Korea, as a major
July 2010–May 2012: Air Force Chief of Staff Fellow, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
June 2014–April 2016: Principal Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,000, including over 300 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-15E, T-38A, AT-38B and T-37
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service
Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation
Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
1997 Outstanding Young Texas Exes, The University of Texas at Austin
2009 Katherine and Marjorie Stinson Award, National Aeronautic Association
2018 Omar N. Bradley Spirit of Independence Award
2019 International Aviation Women’s Association, Wings Outstanding Aviator Award
2019 Harvard Business School, Executive Fellow in Executive Education
2019 The University of Texas at Austin, Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Distinguished Alumni
2019 Moves Power Women
2020 Gathering of the Eagles
2020 Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame inductee
2021 The University of Texas at Austin, Cockrell School of Engineering, Distinguished Alumni
2023 The University of Texas at Austin, Distinguished Alumni
