Lt. Gen. Robert Elder serves as Commander, Eighth  Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and Joint Functional Component Commander for Global Strike and Integration, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.

As one of three active-duty numbered air forces in Air Combat Command, Eighth Air Force provides long range global strike, network warfare, battle management, surveillance and reconnaissance, intelligence, tactical air control, and expeditionary heavy construction capabilities to theater combatant commanders.  The “Mighty Eighth” also conducts computer network operations as the Air Force component to the Global Network Operations Joint Task Force, maintains an Air and Space Operations Center supporting USSTRATCOM’s Global Strike mission, and trains personnel for worldwide deployment. 

As the Joint Functional Component Commander for Global Strike and Integration, General Elder serves as the lead integrator for USSTRATCOM deliberate and crisis action planning. He conducts global strike planning to deliver rapid kinetic and non-kinetic effects in support of theater and national objectives, and provides situational awareness and integrated analysis of STRATCOM’s global mission capabilities to include space, integrated missile defense, network warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). 

General Elder also commands Task Force 204, which is responsible for monitoring all nuclear bomber, reconnaissance, and cruise missile generation operations.  The Task Force 204 battlestaff is a cross-functional team that manages the generation, sustainment, logistics, security, and safety of all U.S. strategic strike and reconnaissance aircraft.

General Elder previously served as the commandant of Air War College.  Other assignments include commander, CENTAF-Forward Combined Air Headquarters in Southwest Asia, where he was responsible for operation of the Combined Air Operations Center and served as the CENTCOM Deputy Combined Forces Air Component Commander for operations in Southwest Asia, Central Asia, and the Horn of Africa. He was the deputy CENTCOM Air Force Commander for Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. General Elder has commanded an operational wing, group, squadron and installation, and commanded unit deployments to the CENTCOM, PACOM, and EUCOM areas of responsibility.  His staff experience includes senior leadership positions with the Joint Staff, Air Staff, Air Combat Command and NATO.

A command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, including 83 combat hours flown in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, General Elder holds a doctorate in engineering from the University of Detroit.

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