Evan Pettus

Evan Pettus
Official portrait, 2026
Bornc. 1972 (age 53–54)
Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.[1]
AllegianceUnited States
Branch
United States Air Force
Service years
1994–present
Rank
Lieutenant General
CommandsTwelfth Air Force
378th Air Expeditionary Wing
Air Command and Staff College
48th Fighter Wing
48th Fighter Wing
389th Fighter Squadron
Conflicts
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
EducationUnited States Air Force Academy (BS)
Air Force Institute of Technology (MS)
Air War College (MSS)

Evan Lamar Pettus[1] (born c. 1972) is a United States Air Force lieutenant general who has served as the military deputy commander of the United States Southern Command since 2024. He was the acting commander of the Southern Command from 2025 to 2026. He previously served as the commander of the Twelfth Air Force[2] and as the vice commander of the United States Air Force Warfare Center.[3]

Biography

Pettus earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1994 and graduated from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB and from the U.S. Air Force Weapons School.[3]

He was first stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom as an F-15E pilot.[3] His service record includes combat missions in operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve.[3]

In July 2024, Pettus was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as deputy commander of the United States Southern Command.[4][5]

On 12 December 2025, Pettus became the acting commander of U.S. Southern Command when Admiral Alvin Holsey relinquished command early.[6] He was the acting commander until 5 February 2026, when General Francis Donovan was confirmed.[7]

Dates of promotion

RankBranchDate[3]
Second lieutenantAir Force1 June 1994
First lieutenant1 June 1996
Captain1 June 1998
Major1 July 2004
Lieutenant colonel1 June 2008
Colonel1 October 2013
Brigadier general31 July 2019
Major general3 July 2022
Lieutenant general4 November 2024

References

  1. 1 2 "Redefining Tradition" (PDF). Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  2. ↑ "South American Air Chiefs Converge to Forge a Path Together". 12 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lieutenant General EVAN L. PETTUS". United States Air Force. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "PN1989 - 1 nominee for Air Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress". 31 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024.
  6. ↑ Watson, Eleanor (12 December 2025). "Commande roverseeing U.S. forces in Caribbean relinquishes command early amid U.S. buildup of near Venezuela". CBS News. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  7. ↑ McLoud, Steven (5 February 2026). "U.S. Marine General Donovan Assumes Command of SOUTHCOM". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Evan L. Pettus at Wikimedia Commons
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