Brig. Gen. James Post has surpassed 4,000 cumulative hours flying the F-16, becoming the only known USAF active duty general to do so. Commander of the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson AFB, Alaska, Post achieved the rare mark while flying his 2,565th sortie on March 3. “I’ve always felt most proud when providing close air support to troops on the ground,” said Post, noting that the achievement is all “about the responsibility we all have to remain as ready and proficient as possible.” He switched from the F-4 to the F-16 in 1987, at Luke AFB, Ariz. Post accrued 280 combat hours while enforcing restricted flight zones over Iraq during Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch and in providing ground support during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. (Eielson report by Capt. Frank Hartnett)
Former AFCENT Commander Reflects on Lessons of Epic Fury
Sept. 13, 2026
Operation Epic Fury marked the U.S. military's largest air campaign in a generation, with strikes on 13,000 targets in Iran before the first in a series of shaky ceasefires began in April. Now, even as hostilities continue to flare up, Lt. Gen. Derek C. France sees several clear lessons that…
