Lieutenant General Pettus is a native of Fayetteville, Arkansas and a 1994 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, where he received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He earned a Master's of Business Administration from Bellevue University, Nebraska in 2004, a Master's of Logistics Sciences from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2008, and a Master's of Strategic Studies from the Air War College in 2013.
General Pettus completed Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and was first stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, as an F-15E pilot.
General Pettus is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and a command pilot with more than 2,700 hours in the F-15E and A-10. He has flown combat missions in operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. As a general officer, he served as the Commandant of the Air Command and Staff College, the Commander of the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, and the Vice Commander of the United States Air Force Warfare Center. His staff assignments include duty as the Chief of the Commander's Action Group, U.S. Air Forces Europe, and the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations, U.S. Forces Korea.
In his previous assignment, General Pettus served as the Commander, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. As the Air Force component to U.S. Southern Command, Air Forces Southern conducts security cooperation and provides air, space and cyberspace capabilities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to deter aggression, defeat threats, rapidly respond to crises, and work with allies and partner nations to build regional capacity to ensure a secure, free and prosperous Western Hemisphere.
His military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (three awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), the Air Medal (four awards), the Aerial Achievement Medal (two awards), and various unit, campaign and service awards.
Current as of November 2024