General (Retired) Paul Selva

General (Retired) Paul Selva is a Senior Advisor to Red Cell’s National Security Practice. He retired from the United States Air Force in July 2019 as the 10th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking officer in the United States Air Force and the second highest-ranking military officer in the nation, a position he held from July 2015 until his retirement. Prior to this assignment, Gen. Selva was appointed commander of United States Transportation Command, responsible for overseeing all global air, land, and sea transportation systems for the entire Department of Defense. Prior to that, he was commander of Air Mobility Command.

During his 39-year career in the Air Force, Gen. Selva has held numerous positions of staff, leadership, and command in nearly every operational tier of the Air Force, from squadron to group, wing, and major command. He has performed a wide range of duties in various assignments, including working as an analyst in the Office of Net Assessment, director of Strategic Plans on the Air Staff, and assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (a role in which he served as the primary liaison between the Joint Staff and the Secretary of State). Gen. Selva earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a master’s degree in management and human relations from Abilene Christian University, and a master’s degree in political science from Auburn University. A command-rated pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours logged, he completed undergraduate pilot training at Reese Air Force Base, is a graduate of Squadron Officer School, and a distinguished graduate of Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base. Gen. Selva was named a 1996 National Defense Fellow, Secretary of Defense Strategic Studies Group.

The numerous awards and honors Gen. Selva has received include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; the Eisenhower Award; two Air Force Distinguished Service Medals; the Defense Superior Service Medal; two Legion of Merit Awards; and the State Department Distinguished Honor Award, as well as several awards and medals received throughout his career acknowledging excellence in service and capabilities.