Maj. Gen. Derek J. “Maestro” O'Malley is the Deputy Commander, 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central) and Deputy Commander, Combined Forces Air Component Command, United States Central Command, Southwest Asia. As Deputy Commander, he is responsible for the command and control of air operations and development and execution of contingency plans in a 21- nation area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia.
Maj. Gen. O'Malley received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program from Brigham Young University, Utah, in 1996. He has accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours including operational flying assignments in the F-16, F-35A and A-10C. He is a distinguished graduate and former instructor at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and was also in the initial cadre for the F-35A Lightning II.
Maj. Gen. O'Malley has held leadership positions at the squadron, group and wing levels. He also commanded the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing in Afghanistan as it culminated 19 years of combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Freedom’s Sentinel. His staff experience includes joint assignments in the Canadian NORAD Region, NORAD and the Office of the Secretary of War. Prior to his current position, he served the Director of the Department of War Special Access Program Central Office. He has deployed in support of operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Resolute Support, Freedom's Sentinel, and Epic Fury.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Arts, Communications, Brigham Young University, Utah
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2005 Master of Business Administration, Trident University, distance learning program
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB., Ala., by correspondence
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Science, Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflicts, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2013 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Science, Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2024 CAPSTONE Executive Development Course, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C
2025 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1996–May 1997, Executive Officer, 71st Operations Group, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. May 1997–September 1998, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
3. September 1998–August 1999, Student, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, 308th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. August 1999–July 2001, Assistant Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 389th FS, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
5. July 2001–January 2003, F-16 Flight Examiner, Flight Commander, 22nd FS, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
6. January 2003–July 2004, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. July 2004–August 2005, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 35th FS, Kunsan AB, South Korea
8. August 2005–June 2008, F-16 Instructor, Assistant Director of Operations, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. June 2008–October 2009, Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
10. October 2009–July 2011, Deputy Operations Group Commander, 33rd Operations Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
11. July 2011–June 2012 Director of Operations, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
12. June 2012–June 2014, Commander, 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. June 2014–June 2015, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pa.
14. June 2015–June 2017, Senior Military Advisor for Air Warfare Systems, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. June 2017–June 2018, Vice Commander, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
16. June 2018–June 2020, Commander, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.
17. June 2020–June 2021, Commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing / Task Force Vulture, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
18. June 2021–June 2023, Deputy Commander, Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Region, and Deputy Joint Forces Air Component Commander, 1 Canadian Air Division, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
19. June 2023–July 2024, Deputy Director of Operations, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
20. July 2024–March 2026, Director, Special Access Program Central Office, Office of the Secretary of War, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va
21. March 2026–present, Deputy Commander, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), Shaw AFB, S.C., and the Combined Forces Air Component Deputy Commander for U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2015–June 2017, Senior Military Advisor for Air Warfare Systems, Office of the Secretary of War, Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. as a colonel
2. June 2021–June 2023, Deputy Commander, Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Region and Deputy Joint Forces Air Component Commander, 1 Canadian Air Division, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, as a brigadier general
3. June 2023–July 2024, Deputy Director of Operations, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo., as a brigadier general
4. July 2024–March 2026, Director, Special Access Program Central Office, Office of the Secretary of War, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. as a major general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,000 including 586 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-41, T-3, T-37, T-38, F-35A, F-16C, A-10C, CF-18, and C-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters and "C" device
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with "V" device Defense Meritorious Service
Medal Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters and five "C" devices
Combat Action Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (Government of Canada)
(Current as of May 2026)