Brigadier John Creel

Incoming Commander NATO ISR Force

Brig. Gen. John B. Creel is the Deputy Commander, Air Forces Southern, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. As the Air Force component to U.S. Southern Command, Air Forces Southern conducts security cooperation and provides air, space and cyberspace capabilities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Brig. Gen. Creel began his military career in 1985 as an enlisted helicopter mechanic in the Army. He then attended helicopter flight training and flew the UH-60 Black Hawk as a warrant officer. After 15 years, he separated from the Army, joined the Air Force, and graduated Officer Training School in 2000. He has held positions at the squadron, group, wing, deployed Joint Force Command and Combatant Command levels. Brig. Gen. Creel’s operational tours include operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He holds an undergraduate degree in professional aeronautics and two graduate degrees in Business Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a third graduate degree in Strategic Studies from the Marine Corps War College. Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Creel served as the Senior Special Assistant to the Commander of United States European Command and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Brussels, Belgium.