Maj. Gen. Donald K. Carpenter is the Director, Lightning Sustainment Center, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio leads a staff of nearly 400 personnel in six divisions representing US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps, seven international partners and five industry contractors in support of operational and programmatic planning processes to deliver sustainment logistics and engineering expertise to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. He provides leadership and direction supporting the three US Services, seven partner nations, and nine Foreign Military Sales (FMS) countries in sustaining more than 950 Joint Strike Fighters and the planning/integration of more than 1,200 additional aircraft by 2027. Within the construct of the LSC, he manages a budget exceeding five billion dollars annually and leads the F-35 Global Fleet Support Operations Center in providing 24/7 sustainment support and response to 39 operational units worldwide.
General Carpenter’s military service began in 1983 enlisting as a Jet Engine Mechanic in the U.S. Navy. During his second active tour, he completed his Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University in Aviation Management in May of 1990. In April 1991 he enlisted in the Air National Guard as an F-16 Jet engine mechanic, topping out his enlisted career as a C-130 Flight Engineer Master Sergeant. February of 1997, General Carpenter graduated as a distinguished graduate from the Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base receiving his commission as an Intelligence officer. General Carpenter has deployed to Europe and Southwest Asia multiple times in support of contingency operations, and he served as the senior military officer in charge of C-130 maintenance training for the Polish Air Force. General Carpenter is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, who contributes countless hours to innovation, process improvement and leadership development in both the Air and Army National Guard.
He has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing level. Prior to his current position, he served as Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, National Guard Bureau, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
2002 Squadron Officer School (SOS)
2007 Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), by correspondence
2013 Air War College, by correspondence
2014 Masters of Business Administration, University of Management and Technology, Arlington, VA
2017 Air National Guard Commander Development Course, Andrews AFB, MD
2017 Dual Status Commander Orientation Course, Peterson AFB, CO
2017 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson AFB, CO
2019 Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Certification, Arlington, VA 2020 National and International Security Leadership Seminar (NISLS)
2021 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina (UNC), Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill, NC 2021 Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC), Arlington, VA
2023 Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs National Security Management Course, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
2023 USAF Leading Strategically Program, Colorado Springs, CO
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1997 - December 1997, Intelligence Officer, 182d Operations Group, 182d Airlift Wing, Peoria, IL
2. December 1997 - March 2001, Supply Officer, 182d Logistics Readiness Squadron, 182d Airlift Wing, Peoria, IL
3. March 2001 - November 2003, Commander, 182d Maintenance Squadron, 182d Airlift Wing, Peoria, IL (July 2001 - September 2001, Aircraft Maintenance Commander, 38th Provincial Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany) (September 2002 - November 2002, Maintenance Officer, 320th Expeditionary Wing, Seeb, Oman) (March 2003 - August 2003, Maintenance Squadron Commander, 486th Aerospace Expeditionary Maintenance Group, Al Minhad Air Base, United Arab Emirates)
4. November 2003 - September 2004, Wing Executive Officer, 182d Airlift Wing, Peoria, IL
5. September 2004 - January 2005, Logistics Readiness Officer, 182d Logistics Readiness Squadron, 182d Airlift Wing, Peoria, IL
6. January 2005 - April 2008, Aircraft Systems Flight Evaluator, 182d Maintenance Group, 182d Airlift Wing, Peoria, IL
7. April 2008 - December 2015, Commander, 182d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 182d Airlift Wing, Peoria, IL (August 2008 - October 2008, Commander, 455th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan) (November 2011 - March 2012, Commander, 455th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan)
8. December 2015 - September 2018, Commander, 183d Mission Support Group, 183d Wing, Springfield, IL
9. September 2018 - December 2019, Vice Commander, 183d Wing, Springfield, IL
10. December 2019 - April 2021, Commander, 183d Wing, Springfield, IL
11. April 2021 – May 2023, Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection (NGB A-4), Joint Base Andrews , MD
12. May 2023 – Present, Director, Lightning Sustainment Center, F-35 Joint Strike Force Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit Award with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and three oak leaf clusters
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Combat Readiness Medal
Navy Good Conduct Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, February 27, 1997
First Lieutenant, February 27, 1999
Captain, February 27, 2001
Major, January 21, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel, March 5, 2010
Colonel, August. 18, 2016
Brigadier General, April 5, 2021
Major General, May 15, 2023
(Current as of July 2023)