Stephen Wilson is employed as a Senior Fellow for the National Defense University in support of the Pinnacle, Capstone, and Keystone programs.
General Wilson is a retired 4-star U.S. Air Force General with over 39 years of military service. He has extensive operational experience including commanding the largest Wing in the Middle East and commanding and reinvigorating America’s nuclear Bombers and Missile forces in Global Strike Command before assuming his duties as the 39th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. As the Vice Chief, he was the senior military officer that managed the organizing, training, and equipping over 685,000 active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen helping direct strategy, policy, acquisition, technology, personnel and risk management. He served on the Joint Requirements Oversight Council setting the acquisition requirements for DoD. He helped manage the planning, programming, budgeting and execution of the Air Force’s $205B annual budget.
General Wilson was widely acknowledged as the driving force for embracing both innovative technology and new thinking to include the startup of AFWERX, a U.S Air Force program which expands technology, talent, and transition partnerships for rapid and affordable commercial and military capabilities. In 2020, AFWERX was named as one of the Top 20 Best workplaces for Innovators in the World. His many awards and decorations include three Defense Service Medals, the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and two Air Medals.
General Wilson is a command pilot with over 4,500 flight hours that includes nearly 700 combat hours. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University and the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. He holds two Master’s degrees - one in Engineering Management from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and one in Strategic Studies from Air University.