Brig. Gen. Daniel C. Clayton is the Deputy Commander, First Air Force, Air Forces Northern, stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. He serves as the principal advisor to the First Air Force Commander, supporting the deployment, sustainment, and redeployment of U.S. Air Forces under U.S. Northern Command. He provides oversight for Defense Support to Civil Authorities and theater security cooperation with partner nations. He ensures the Civil Air Patrol is organized, trained, and equipped to fulfill Air Force assigned missions. He oversees the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center's execution of inland search and rescue operations, and the Air Force National Security Emergency Preparedness directorate's deployment and sustainment of Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers. As the Deputy Combined/Joint Forces Air Component Commander, he is responsible for planning and conducting air defense and air sovereignty operations in the continental United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Brig. Gen. Clayton was commissioned in 1997 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He earned his wings at Sheppard AFB, Texas. He served as an A-10 Thunderbolt II attack pilot, forward air controller (airborne), joint terminal attack controller, instructor pilot, examiner pilot, weapons officer, and instructor at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. He also served on the Joint Staff, the Headquarters Air Force Staff, and as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. He commanded the 6th Combat Training Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada, the 451st Air Expeditionary Group at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, and the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing across Europe and the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing across Africa.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Economics (with minor in German), U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2005 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Master of Arts, Aeronautical Science (with honors), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2011 Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of Arts, National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2019 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1997–April 1998, Special Assistant, Fifth Operations Support Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
2. May 1998–June 1999, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. July 1999–August 1999, Student, Intro to Fighter Fundamentals, 435th Fighter Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
4. January 2000–June 2000, Student, A-10 Fighter Training Unit, 357th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
5. August 2000–November 2003, Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot, 355th Fighter Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
6. November 2003–December 2004, Assistant Weapons Officer and Instructor Pilot, 51st Operational Support Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea
7. December 2004–July 2005, FTU Instructor Pilot, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
8. July 2005–December 2005, Student, A-10 Weapons Instructor Course, 66th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. January 2006–January 2008, Weapons Officer and Assistant Operations Officer, 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
10. January 2008–January 2009, Chief, Standardization and Evaluation and Examiner Pilot, 51st Operations Group, Osan Air Base, South Korea
11. January 2009–June 2010, Deputy Chief, Combat Operations Division, 613th Air and Space Operations Center, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
12. June 2010–June 2011, Student, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
13. November 2011–October 2012, Director of Operations, 75th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
14. November 2012–July 2014, Commander, Sixth Combat Training Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
15. July 2014–June 2015, Student, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
16. June 2015–March 2016, J7/JLLD Branch Chief, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. March 2016–August 2017, Special Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. August 2017–June 2018, Chief, Core Function Liaison, Air Combat Command Directorate of Plans, Programs and Requirements, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. July 2018–June 2019, Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Group, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
20. August 2019–June 2021, Commander, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing and 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
21. June 2021–June 2022, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
22. July 2022–July 2023, Deputy Director, Capability Development, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
23. July 2023–June 2024, Director, Advanced Battle Management System Cross-Functional Team, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
24. June 2024–present, Deputy Commander, First Air Force, Air Forces Northern, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2015–March 2016, J7/JLLD Branch Chief, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. as a lieutenant colonel
2. March 2016–August 2017, Special Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: 3,215 with 859 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-3, T-37, T-38, AT-38, A-10, F-16, E-11A, HH-60 and KC-135
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with nine “C” devices and eight oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with “C” device
Joint Service Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999 Distinguished Graduate, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals
2000 Distinguished Graduate, A-10 Fighter Training Unit
2007 Air Combat Command Operational Flying Weapons Officer of the Year
2007 Air Combat Command Daedalian Pilot of the Year
2009 Honor Graduate, Air Operations Center Initial Qualification Training
2015 Distinguished Graduate, Eisenhower School
(Current as of July 2024)