
The vice chief of staff of the Air Force (VCSAF) is the second highest-ranking military officer in the United States Air Force. In the event that the chief of staff of the Air Force (CSAF) is absent or is unable to perform his duties, the VCSAF assumes the duties and responsibilities of the CSAF. The VCSAF may also perform other duties that the secretary of defense (SECDEF), the secretary of the Air Force (SECAF) or the CSAF assigns to him. The VCSAF is appointed by the president of the United States and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate. By statute, the VCSAF is appointed as a four-star general.

Lew Allen, Jr. was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as the tenth Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief of staff, Allen served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training, and equipping of 750,000 active duty Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and civilian personnel serving in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he and the other service chiefs function(ed) as the military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, and the President.

William Hugh Blanchard was a United States Air Force officer who attained the rank of four-star general and served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1966.

Philip Mark Breedlove is a retired four-star General in the United States Air Force who served as the Commander, U.S. European Command, as well as the 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, from May 2013 until May 4, 2016. He previously served as the Commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe, which he concurrently served as Commander, U.S. Air Forces Africa, Commander, Air Component Command, Ramstein, and Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center. He previously served as the 36th Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from January 14, 2011, to July 27, 2012. On 10 May 2013, in a ceremony in Stuttgart, Germany, Breedlove took over the command of USEUCOM. Three days later, on May 13, 2013, he assumed command as SACEUR.

Michael Patrick Chamberlain Carns was the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1991 to 1994.

Carrol Howard "Howie" Chandler, is a retired United States Air Force four-star general. He last served as the 35th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from August 27, 2009 to January 14, 2011. He previously served as Commander of Pacific Air Forces from November 2007 to August 20, 2009 and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements from October 23, 2005 to November 29, 2007. As Vice Chief, he presides over the Air Staff and serves as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Requirements Oversight Council and Deputy Advisory Working Group. He assists the Chief of Staff with organizing, training, and equipping of 680,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. He retired from the Air Force by March 1, 2011. In 2012 he joined Pratt & Whitney Military Engines as Vice President, Military Business Development and International Programs.

John Donald Wesley Corley is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force. He previously served as the commander of Air Combat Command from October 2007 to September 10, 2009 and as the 32nd Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from September 2005 to September 2007. He retired from the Air Force on November 1, 2009.

General Ralph Edward "Ed" Eberhart is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He was in charge of NORAD on 9/11.

Richard Hastings Ellis was a United States Air Force general who served as the commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command and director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff with headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He was also director of the Joint Strategic Connectivity Staff.

General Muir Stephen Fairchild was a United States Air Force officer and the service's second Vice Chief of Staff.

General Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong, formerly of Williamson, West Virginia, is a former President of Mississippi State University. He served in the United States Air Force from April 1972 until retirement as general in February 2006.

General William M. Fraser III is a retired United States Air Force officer who served as Commander, United States Transportation Command. He previously served as Commander, Air Combat Command from September 10, 2009 to September 30, 2011, the 34th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from 9 October 2008 to 27 August 2009, and as Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from May 2006 to 8 October 2008. As the Assistant to the CJCS, Fraser oversaw matters requiring close personal control by the Chairman, with particular focus on international relations and politico-military concerns. As commander of United States Transportation Command, Fraser was in charge of managing all global air, land and sea transportation. He retired 5 May, 2014.

David Lee Goldfein is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who last served as the 21st chief of staff of the Air Force. He previously served as the vice chief of staff of the Air Force and, prior to that, he served as the director of the Joint Staff, a position within the Joint Chiefs of Staff who assists the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Goldfein retired from the Air Force on October 1, 2020, after over 37 years of service.

John W. Handy is a retired United States Air Force officer. Serving from 1967 to 2005, he reached the rank of general and held a number of high-ranking commands.

Monroe W. Hatch Jr. is a former general in the United States Air Force and the former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.

General James Arthur Hill was a U.S. Air Force four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.

General Bruce Keener Holloway was a United States Air Force general. A West Point graduate, he was a fighter ace with the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and later served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and commander-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command.

Curtis Emerson LeMay was an American Air Force general who implemented an effective but controversial strategic bombing campaign in the Pacific theater of World War II. He later served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force from 1961 to 1965.

John Michael Loh is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force who last served as Commander, Air Combat Command from June 1992 to July 1995. His other four-star assignment include being the 24th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from June 1990 – March 1991, and Commander, Tactical Air Command from March 1991 – June 1992. He retired from the Air Force on July 1, 1995.

General Lester L. Lyles is a former United States Air Force general, Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, and Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. After retirement from the Air Force in 2003, he became a company director for General Dynamics, DPL Inc., KBR, Inc., Precision Castparts Corp., MTC Technologies, Battelle Memorial Institute and USAA. Lyles is also a Trustee of Analytic Services and a Managing Partner of Four Seasons Ventures, LLC.

Robert Couth Mathis was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF) from 1980 to 1982.

William Vincent McBride is a retired general in the United States Air Force and the former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.

General John Paul McConnell was the sixth Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief of staff, McConnell served in a dual capacity. He was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff which, as a body, acts as the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. In his other capacity, he was responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force for managing the vast human and materiel resources of the world's most powerful aerospace force.
William Fulton McKee was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC) from 1961 to 1962; and Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF) from 1962 to 1964. He later served as the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator from 1965 to 1968.

Duncan J. McNabb is a retired United States Air Force general who last served as the ninth Commander, United States Transportation Command from September 5, 2008 to October 17, 2011. He previously served as the 33rd Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

General John Charles Meyer was an American World War II flying ace, and later the commander-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. SAC was the United States' major nuclear deterrent force with bombers, tankers and reconnaissance aircraft, and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff coordinated the nation's nuclear war plans and developed the Single Integrated Operations Plan.

Thomas Samuel Moorman Jr. was a United States Air Force officer who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from July 1994 to August 1997.

Teed Michael "Buzz" Moseley is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 18th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He is a fighter pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours in fighters and trainers, most in the F-15 Eagle.

General Jerome Francis O'Malley was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF) from 1982 to 1983; Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF) from 1983 to 1984; and Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC) from 1984 to 1985. He died in an airplane crash while still in command of Tactical Air Command.

General John Louis Piotrowski is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF), from 1985 to 1987; and Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command (CINCNORAD/USCINCSPACE), from 1987 to 1990.

General John Dale Ryan was the seventh Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, General Ryan served in a dual capacity. He was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which, as a body, acts as the principal military advisers to the president, the National Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. In his other capacity, he was responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force for managing the vast human and materiel resources of the world's most powerful aerospace force.

General Lawrence Albert Skantze was a United States Air Force four-star general and was commander, Air Force Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

Frederic Harrison Smith Jr. was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE) from 1959 to 1961; and Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF) from 1961 to 1962.

Larry Oneil Spencer is a United States Air Force general (ret.) who served in many command, comptroller, and leadership roles during the course of his career. Some of his leadership roles include being the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, Commander of the 75th Air Base Wing at Hill AFB, Commander of the 72nd Support Group at Tinker AFB, and the Commander of the 4th Comptroller Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB. He retired 1 October 2015 with more than 44 years of distinguished service to the United States. He received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.

Nathan Farragut Twining was a United States Air Force general, born in Monroe, Wisconsin. He was Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1953 until 1957, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1957 to 1960. He was the first member of the Air Force to serve as Chairman. Twining was a distinguished "mustang" officer, rising from private to four-star general and appointment to the highest post in the United States Armed Forces in the course of his 45-year career.

Regis F. A. Urschler is a retired United States Air Force brigadier general who served as the vice commander of Electronic Security Command (ESC). ESC was formed in 1979, and Urschler became vice commander in May 1982. He retired from active duty 1 June 1985 a decorated Vietnam War and Cold War command pilot with more than 15,000 flying hours, including 1,500-plus in combat. His overseas tours of duty included Japan, Turkey, Greenland and England.

Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg was a United States Air Force general. He served as the second Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the second Director of Central Intelligence.

Horace Milton Wade was a former general in the United States Air Force and a former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.

General Larry D. Welch is a retired United States Air Force four star general who served as the 12th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As Chief of Staff, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of a combined active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian force serving at locations in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he and the other service chiefs functioned as the principal military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Nuclear Weapon Surety Task Force for the Defense Science Board.

General Thomas Dresser White was the fourth Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.