Timothy Ray

Timothy M. Ray
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1985–2021
RankGeneral
CommandsAir Force Global Strike Command
Third Air Force
NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan
7th Bomb Wing
96th Bomb Squadron
Battles / warsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal

Timothy Michael Ray[1] is a retired United States Air Force general who last served as the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command from August 21, 2018, to August 27, 2021.[2] He concurrently served as the commander of Air Forces Strategic – Air, United States Strategic Command. His two previous assignments were as the Deputy Commander, United States European Command, and as the Commander, Third Air Force. He previously served as the director of global power programs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington, D.C.[3]

Military career

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Ray is a native of DeLand, Florida.[4] In February 2018, he was nominated for promotion to general[5] and reassignment as the commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command.[6] This nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate in March 2018.[5] Prior to his current assignment, Ray served as the Deputy Commander, United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.

His retirement ceremony was held on July 1, 2021, but it took until August of the same year before his deputy, Lieutenant General Anthony J. Cotton officially relieved him as commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.[7] Ray officially retired from the USAF on September 1, 2021.[8]

Education

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  • 1985 Bachelor of Science degree in Human Factors Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
  • 1994 Distinguished graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • 1998 Master of Science degree in aviation sciences and management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
  • 1998 Distinguished graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • 2004 Master of Science degree in strategic studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • 2008 Senior Executive Fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

Assignments

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1. August 1985 – August 1987, student, undergraduate pilot training, Williams AFB, Ariz.
2. August 1987 – October 1987, student, B-52 combat crew training, Castle AFB, Calif.
3. November 1987 – March 1993, B-52 flight commander, instructor and evaluator pilot, 23rd Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
4. March 1993 – March 1994, B-52 Flying Training Unit instructor pilot, Castle AFB, Calif.
5. March 1994 – June 1997, B-52 FTU instructor pilot and executive officer, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.
6. June 1997 – July 1998, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. July 1998 – October 2000, Deputy Chief, Aircraft Team, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
8. October 2000 – June 2001, operations officer, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
9. June 2001 – July 2003, Commander, 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
10. August 2003 – June 2004, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. July 2004 – September 2005, Chief, Training, Readiness, Exercises and NEO Division (J37), U.S. Forces Korea, Yongsan Army Garrison, South Korea
12. September 2005 – July 2006, Vice Commander, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.
13. July 2006 – June 2008, Commander, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas
14. July 2008 – July 2009, deputy director of Air and Space Operations at Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
15. August 2009 – August 2011, Director of Operations, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
16. August 2011 – September 2012, Commanding General, NATO Air Training Command – Afghanistan, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan and Commander, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Kabul, Afghanistan
17. September 2012 – January 2014, Director, Operational Planning, Policy and Strategy, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. February 2014 – June 2015, Director, Global Power Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. July 2015 – October 2016, Commander, 3rd Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
20. November 2016 – August 2018, Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany
21. August 2018 – August 2021, Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Air Forces Strategic – Air, U.S. Strategic Command, Barksdale AFB, La.

Flight information

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Rating: Command Pilot.
Flight hours: more than 4,000.
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, B-52G, B-52H, B-1B, C-21, C-27A and C-208.

Awards and decorations

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US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Basic Parachutist Badge

Senior Missile Operations Badge
Headquarters Air Force Badge
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster[9]
Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges
 Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges. Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges. Meritorious Service Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device, one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
Bronze star
 Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Silver oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze star
 Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star
Air Force Training Ribbon
Order of National Security Merit Sam-Il Medal (Republic of Korea)
NATO Medal for service with ISAF

Effective dates of promotion

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Promotions
Insignia Rank Date
General Aug. 21, 2018
Lieutenant General July 2, 2015
Major General June 2, 2013
Brigadier General Nov. 2, 2009
Colonel Aug. 1, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2000
Major Feb. 1, 1997
Captain May 29, 1989
First Lieutenant May 29, 1987
Second Lieutenant May 29, 1985

References

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  1. ^ Polaris (PDF). Vol. XXVII. Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1985. p. 84. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  2. ^ MSgt Micky Pena (August 27, 2021). "Gen. Anthony J. Cotton takes command of Air Force Global Strike Command". Air Force Global Strike Command. Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs.
  3. ^ "Lieutenant General Timothy M. Ray". United States Air Force. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  4. ^ "New 3rd AF commander charts path to organizational success". Kaiserslautern American. August 27, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "PN1665 — Lt. Gen. Timothy M. Ray — Air Force". U.S. Congress. February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  6. ^ "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  7. ^ Cohen, Rachel (June 24, 2021). "Cotton nominated to run Air Force's nuclear enterprise at pivotal time". Military Times. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "GENERAL TIMOTHY M. RAY". www.af.mil.
  9. ^ AFGSC [@AFGlobalStrike] (July 8, 2021). "#Congratulations to Gen. Ray, commander of @AFGlobalStrike, on his retirement. #ThankYouForYourService and dedication to our nation and #StrikerNation! #StrikerCulture https://t.co/FsibytaxhU" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via Twitter.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Timothy M. Ray.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from General Timothy M. Ray. United States Air Force.

Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the 7th Bomb Wing
2006–2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing
2011–2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of Operational Planning, Policy, and Strategy of the United States Air Force
2012–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of Global Power Programs of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition
2014–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Third Air Force
2015–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Commander of the United States European Command
2016–2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command
2018–2021 		Succeeded by
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