Lt. Gen. Daniel J. Darnell is Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii.

General Darnell earned a bachelor's degree in history from the Virginia Military Institute, and received his commission after completing the Air Force ROTC program as a distinguished graduate. He was equally honored after completing undergraduate pilot training. He has commanded wide ranging diverse organizations from combat units to space operations at the squadron, group, wing and warfare center levels. The general has served as a division chief in the Operations Directorate on the Joint Staff, and was the commander and leader of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds.

General Darnell has flown combat missions in Iraq, enforcing no-fly zones during operations Northern and Southern Watch. In 2003, he was the Senior Director of the Combined Air Operations Center at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, during the opening weeks and months of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours, primarily in the F-15A/B/C/D and F-16C/D. Prior to his current assignment, the general served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air, Space and Information Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

1975 - Bachelor of Arts degree in history, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington

2007 - Defense Policy Seminar, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

1. April 1976 - April 1977, student, undergraduate pilot training, Reese AFB, Texas

23. July 2009 - present, Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii

1. June 1995 - May 1997, Assistant Division Chief, Forces Division, later, Chief, European Division, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel

3. July 2009 - present, Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, as a lieutenant general

Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,500
Aircraft flown: F-15A/B/C/D and F-16C/D

Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster

1982 Member, William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Competition Team, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing

1984 Member, William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Competition Team, 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

Second Lieutenant May 15, 1975
First Lieutenant Dec. 10, 1977
Captain Dec. 10, 1979
Major May 1, 1986
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 1991
Colonel Feb. 1, 1995
Brigadier General Aug. 1, 2001
Major General June 1, 2005
Lieutenant General Nov. 19, 2007

Before competing on the 318th FIS 1984 William Tell Team, Gen Darnell was a key member of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wings 1982 Team. The  Kadena AB, Japan based Wing was awarded the General Daniel "Chappie" James Trophy as the top team in that years event.  Darnell was assigned F-15C S/N 78-0532 in the meet.

During his assignment with the 318th FIS 1981 - 1983), Darnell served as the  Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Chief of Weapons and Tactics. He was one of the first pilots to stand alert at McChord in the F-15 after the conversion from the F-106. As a Captain, Darnell participated in the 318th only William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Meet in the F-15, he is pictured above taxing at William Tell in his F-15, S/N 76-0091.

The final QF-100D Super Sabre destroyed in William Tell 1984 was claimed by Capt Dan Darnell of the 318th FIS. In its first William Tell as a target the QF-100 proved to be harder to kill than its predecessor, the PQM-102 Delta Dagger. QF-100D #129, (AF S/N 56-3313) last served with the 149th Tactical Fighter Wings 182nd Tactical Fighter Squadron of the Texas Air National Guard, she was retired from service in 06 March 1979.

The then LTC Darnell ready's his F-16C for the next flight - in 1992 the first year the Thunderbirds flew the "C & D" version of the F-16. 1992 was also the 40th Anniversary of the Thunderbirds.

LTC Darnell is pictured with the Thunderbird pilots during a post-mission brief.

During a regular work day, Thunderbird Pilots wear the normal sage green flight suit. Here Darnell leads his pilots to their aircraft before a training flight.

LTC Darnell is pictured during a Thunderbird "patching" ceremony for a new maintenance crewmember. The Thunderbird Leader or "Boss" not only leads the formation, he is also the Squadron Commander.

As the USAF's "Ambassadors in Blue" the Thunderbirds primary mission is twofold, first to exhibit the capacities of the USAF and its aircraft second is to demonstrate the high degree of skill maintained by Air Force personnel serving in a variety of career fields. Above Darnell relays that message during a visit to a classroom of students.