LTG David Deptula

Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula serves as the Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

Gen Deptula is a world-recognized leader and pioneer in conceptualizing, planning, and executing national security operations from humanitarian relief to major combat. He was the principal attack planner for the Operation Desert Storm air campaign; commander of no-fly-zone operations over Iraq in the late 1990s; director of the air campaign over Afghanistan in 2001; twice a joint task force commander; and was the air commander for the 2005 South Asia tsunami relief operations. He served on two congressional commissions charged with outlining America’s future defense posture. He is a fighter pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours—400 in combat—including multiple command assignments in the F-15. His last assignment was as the Air Force’s first chief of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), where he transformed America’s military ISR and drone enterprises, orchestrating the largest increase in drone operations in Air Force history. He retired from the Air Force in 2010 after more than 34 years of distinguished service.

Gen Deptula is a recognized expert and sought-after commentator around the world as a thought leader on aerospace operations, defense, strategy, and ISR. His recent works include: Aerospace Vectors for the Incoming Biden Defense Team; Resolving America’s Defense Strategy-Resource Mismatch: The Case for Cost-Per-Effect Analysis; Restoring America's Military Competitiveness: Mosaic Warfare; and The Force We Need: Key Factors for Shaping the Air Force for the Future, among many others.

Gen Deptula has BA and ME degrees from the University of Virginia and a MS degree from National War College. He is also a graduate of the Air Force’s Fighter Weapons School. In addition to his duties as Dean of the Mitchell Institute, he is the Perot/Risner Senior Military Scholar at the U.S. Air Force Academy, a board member at a variety of organizations, and an independent consultant.