Gerald Goodfellow

Gerald V. Goodfellow
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1989 – present
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands held	Squadron Officer School, Squadron Officer College 12th Flying Training Wing
Awards	Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Mackay Trophy
Spouse(s)	Kristine Goodfellow, author

Gerald V. Goodfellow is a United States Air Force Brigadier General and the current Commander of Squadron Officer College and Commandant, Squadron Officer School. Goodfellow was commissioned through Air Force ROTC at the University of New Mexico in 1989. Initially a Navigator on the KC-135 Stratotanker, Goodfellow transitioned to the B-1 Lancer as an Offensive Systems Officer. In 1995, Goodfellow was part of a military exercise that won the 1995 Mackay Trophy. Goodfellow has commanded at flight, detachment, group, and wing level. Prior to assuming command at Squadron Officer College, Goodfellow was the Commander, 12th Flying Training Wing.

Career

After receiving his commission in 1989, Goodfellow reported for Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather Air Force Base with follow on training at the KC-135 Combat Crew Training Squadron at Castle Air Force Base. In July 1991, Goodfellow reported to the 917th Air Refueling Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base as a KC-135 Navigator. In October 1993 Goodfellow was chosen for transition to the B-1B Lancer as an Offensive Systems Officer. After retraining Goodfellow joined the 9th Bomb Squadron.^[1]

While with the 9th Bomb Squadron, Goodfellow was chosen to participate in an exercise called Coronet Bat. During the exercise, two B-1B Lancers flew around-the-world non-stop with air-refueling on a practice bombing mission hitting ranges in Europe, Asia, and North America. This exercise set a world aviation record for "Nonstop Speed Around-the-World with refueling in flight". Coronet Bat was deemed the most meritorious flight of 1995 earning the members of the flight crews the Mackay Trophy.^[1]

From 1997 to 2002, Goodfellow served in a variety of capacities at Ellsworth Air Force Base. He served as Chief, Training Flight; Chief, Standardization and Evaluation; and Flight Commander as well as Chief Weapon Systems Officer, Wing Standardization and Evaluation, and Executive Officer, 28th Bomb Wing. During his service at Ellsworth, Goodfellow deployed with the 77th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, 2nd Air Expeditionary Group to RAF Fairford in support of Operation Allied Force. During the first B-1B Lancer combat missions Goodfellow was serving as the Offensive Systems Officer. After the attacking the first target of their mission, the bomb bay doors became stuck open. Goodfellow was able to clear the error causing the malfunction, but the doors still would not close. The crew decided to continue the mission to hit their second target due to its high priority, rather than returning to base for repairs. During the course of the mission the aircraft was targeted more than once by surface to air missiles, but was able to hit its second target and safely leave the area of operations. Despite being out of the combat zone, the mission still faced difficulties as the open bomb bay doors created excessive drag and depleted fuel below the level required to return to RAF Fairford. Plotting the most efficient path back to the base coupled with coordinating in-flight refueling allowed the crew to bring the aircraft back to England. Prior to landing, the aircraft was struck by lightning, blowing off a chuck of the horizontal stabilizer. Goodfellow was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with "V" Device for heroism.^[2] Goodfellow and the members of the crew were awarded the 1999 General Ira C. Eaker Award for an Outstanding Single Feat of Military Airmanship in the Eighth Air Force.^[3]

From June 2003 to May 2005, Goodfellow served as the Chief of Wargaming Branch, Operational Plans and Joint Matters Directorate under the [Deputy Chief of Staff, Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force at The Pentagon in Washington, D.C.. Goodfellow was responsible for executing the Air Force Chief of Staff’s annual Title 10 Wargame. While serving in this capacity Goodfellow was named the 2004 Deputy Chief of Staff, Air and Space Operations, Air Force Association Action Officer of the Year. Following his assignment with the Air Staff, Goodfellow next commanded Air Combat Command Training Support Squadron Detachment 1, the largest Training Support Squadron in Air Combat Command.^[1]

Goodfellow was assigned to the U.S. Army War College from July 2007 to June 2010. Initially Goodfellow was a student working towards a Master of Strategic Studies. While a student he authored a research project entitled In-Lieu-Of Policy and It’s Effects on the U.S. Air Force. In this project he explored the effects of the In-Lieu-Of Policy, a policy which tasked Air Force personnel to fill manning shortfalls in ground combat operations.^[4] He subsequently stayed on at the Army War College as a Professor of Strategy and Director, Joint Doctrine.^[1]

In 2010, Goodfellow returned to Dyess Air Force Base serving as Commander, 7th Operations Group for one year and then serving as the Vice Commander, 7th Bomb Wing.^[1]

In June 2012, Goodfellow assumed command of the 12th Flying Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio.^[1] The 12th Flying Training Wing has three flying groups and a maintenance directorate that spans across 1,600 miles. The wing manages the training pipelines for combat systems officers (CSO), pilot instructor training, remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) pilot indoctrination, and basic sensor operator qualification. The wing also manages the airmanship programs of the U.S. Air Force Academy and is the single screening point for potential pilots, RPA pilots, and CSOs.^[5] While serving as the wing's commander, an Air Force investigation found that the wing's vice commander had sent inappropriate emails to a subordinate's wife in 2007. The emails were deemed to be unprofessional and cast the vice commander's judgement in a negative light. Goodfellow made the decision to relieve his vice commander due to a "loss of confidence in his ability to lead" the unit.^[6] Goodfellow relinquished command of the 12th Flying Training Wing to Colonel Matthew C. Isler on 25 June 2014.^[7]

Awards and decorations

Goodfellow has been awarded the following awards and decorations:^[1]

• Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
• Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor device
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
• Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
• Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
• Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
• 1995 Mackay Trophy, U.S. Air Force’s most meritorious flight of the year
• 1995 World Record Aviation, Nonstop Speed Around-the-World with refueling in flight
• 1995 Outstanding Graduate, B-1 Central Flight Instructor Course
• 1996 Distinguished Graduate, B-1 Weapon System Officer Training
• 1999 General Ira C. Eaker Award, Outstanding Single Feat of Military Airmanship in 8th Air Force
• 2004 Deputy Chief of Staff, Air and Space Operations, Air Force Association Action Officer of the Year

Education

As a student at the University of New Mexico Goodfellow earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1989. In 1996, he earned a Master of Aerospace Management degree from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. In 2003, he completed a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University. In 2008, Goodfellow was chosen to attend the U.S. Army War College earning a Master of Strategic Studies.^[1]

Family

Goodfellow is married to author Kristine Goodfellow. They have two college aged sons.^[8][9]

References