Herbert J. Carlisle

Herbert J. Carlisle
General Herbert J. Carlisle in 2015
NicknameHawk
Born (1956-02-07) February 7, 1956
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Service years1978–2017
RankGeneral
CommandsAir Combat Command
Pacific Air Forces
13th Air Force
3rd Wing
33rd Fighter Wing
1st Operations Group
54th Fighter Squadron
ConflictsGulf War
AwardsAir Force Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (4)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Herbert Jay Carlisle (born February 7, 1956) is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who last served as the commander of Air Combat Command, at Langley Field, Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia. He also previously served as the commander of Pacific Air Forces while concurrently serving as air component commander for United States Pacific Command and executive director of Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii. He officially retired from the Air Force on May 1, 2017, with 39 years of service.

Originally from El Cajon, California Carlisle graduated from Granite Hills High School in 1974, and continued on to graduate from the United States Air Force Academy in 1978. He has served in various operational and staff assignments throughout the Air Force and commanded a fighter squadron, an operations group, two wings and a numbered air force. The general is a joint service officer and served as the chief of air operations, United States Central Command Forward in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During that time he participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. He also participated in Operation Provide Comfort in Turkey as Commander of the 54th Fighter Squadron, and Operation Noble Eagle as Command 33rd Fighter Wing. Carlisle served on the Air Staff as director, operational planning, policy and strategy, deputy chief of staff for air, space and information operations, plans and requirements, and twice in the Plans and Programs Directorate. He also served as the deputy director, and later director, of legislative liaison at the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, and commander of 13th Air Force, Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii.

Carlisle is a command pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours in the AT-38, YF-110, YF-113, T-38, F-15A/B/C/D, F-15E, and C-17A.