|
|
Lieutenant General (Retired) Steven L. Basham served more than 36 years in the United States Air Force and in various global leadership roles across the Department of Defense. Most recently, Lt. Gen. Basham was Deputy Commander, United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, overseeing a warfighting headquarters conducting a full range of multidomain operations with more than 85,000 permanent and rotational military and civilian personnel in coordination with Allies and Partners to support North Atlantic Treaty Organization, deter Russia, enable global operations, and counter trans-national threats. Prior to this, he was Deputy Commander, United States Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air base, Germany.
Lt. Gen. Basham brings a wealth of global operational knowledge coupled with legislative, requirements and acquisition experience on a variety of defense programs and processes. Notably, Steve served as the United States Air Force Legislative Director leading the advocacy for the entire Air Force portfolio. In addition, Lt. Gen. Basham offers keen insight into the Department of Defense requirements and acquisition process having overseen the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, a key component of the Joint Capability Integration and Development System. He also worked strategy, planning and programming in the Indo-Pacific becoming intimately familiar with operational requirements regarding China and North Korea and working with Pacific allies and partners. For the last five years, Lt. Gen. Basham worked United States support to Trans-Atlantic security with a clear focus on deterring Russian aggression while being a key advisor and advocate for expanding NATO Ally and Partner capabilities. Lt. Gen. Basham is a decorated bomber pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours in the B-1, B-2, B-52, T-38 and T-37. He has commanded at numerous levels within the Air Force. Not only is he one of a small group of aviators that have flown all of the United States operational bombers, he also holds the honor of being one of the first four pilots to fly the B-2 into combat, flying non-stop from Missouri to Serbia and back, during Operation ALLIED FORCE in 1999, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. He went on to earn three Air Medals for additional flights over Serbia as well as over Iraq. Lt. Gen. Basham received numerous other awards and decorations culminating in receiving the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. Lt. Gen. Basham graduated from Western Kentucky University with a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. He became an officer in 1989 through United States Air Force Officer Training School. He earned multiple Masters of Arts Degrees to include Management, Webster University; Strategic Studies, Air Command and Staff College; Strategic Studies, Army War College; and Airpower Art and Science Degree, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. He is also a graduate of Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia; Senior Manager Course, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University; Seminar for Executives on Legislative Operations, Georgetown University; Senior Executives in National and International Security, Harvard Kennedy School; and Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership. |