Lt Gen Thomas Hensley
Commander, Sixteenth Air Force; Commander, Air Forces Cyber, and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-CyberLt. Gen. Thomas K. Hensley is the Commander, Sixteenth Air Force; Commander, Air Forces Cyber, and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Lt. Gen. Hensley is responsible for more than 49,000 personnel conducting worldwide operations. Sixteenth Air Force Airmen deliver multisource intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance products, applications, capabilities and resources. In addition, they build, extend, operate, secure and defend the Air Force portion of the Department of Defense global network. Furthermore, Joint Forces Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force) personnel perform operational planning as part of coordinated efforts to support Air Force component and combatant commanders and, upon approval of the President and/or Secretary of Defense, the execution of offensive cyberspace operations. In his position as Sixteenth Air Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Hensley also serves as the Commander of the Service Cryptologic Component. In this capacity, he is responsible to the Director, National Security Agency, and Chief, Central Security Service, as the Air Force’s sole authority for matters involving the conduct of cryptologic activities, including the spectrum of missions related to tactical warfighting and national-level operations. The general leads the global information warfare activities spanning cyberspace and information operations, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, targeting, public affairs and weather for nine wings, one technical center and an operations center.
Lt. Gen. Hensley earned his commission as a graduate of Texas A&M University in 1992. After completing his Intelligence Officer Training, he was assigned as a Chief Intelligence Systems Element at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Lt. Gen. Hensley served in various operational intelligence assignments including tours at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; and Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Joint Military Intelligence College, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. He has served as a Squadron, Group, and Wing Commander as well as a Joint Task Force and Combatant Command Director of Intelligence. Lt. Gen. Hensley supported contingency operations during operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. Prior to his current assignment, the general was the Deputy Commander, Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster