Jesse J. Friedel

Template:Prod llm/dated

Jesse J. Friedel
Nickname(s)	Ammo
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Rank	Brigadier General (O-7)
Commands held	Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (2025–present) 35th Fighter Wing (2020–2022)
Battles/wars	Operation Northern Watch Operation Noble Eagle Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Odyssey Dawn
Awards	Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal Aerial Achievement Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal Air and Space Commendation Medal Air and Space Achievement Medal Combat Action Medal

Jesse J. "Ammo" Friedel is a United States Air Force brigadier general (O-7). He assumed command of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, on September 16, 2025. Previously he commanded the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan, from July 2020 to June 2022, served as Deputy Commander of Fifth Air Force at Yokota Air Base, Japan, from July 2022 to June 2024, and as Deputy Commander of the United States Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, from June 2024 to August 2025.

From June 2017 to July 2018 Friedel served as a National Defense Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Weapons School and served in multiple assignments in Japan, for which the Government of Japan awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.

Friedel received a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1996 and earned pilot wings through Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, in 1998. He accumulated more than 2,900 fighter hours across the F-16 Fighting Falcon in six block variants and several other aircraft types, including 404 combat hours in support of Operation Northern Watch, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, and South Korea defense obligations. He was promoted to brigadier general on August 2, 2023.

Early life and education

Friedel was raised in Atkinson, Holt County, Nebraska, where he attended West-Holt High School. He received a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1996, commissioned as a second lieutenant.

Friedel earned a Master of Business Administration in finance from Touro University International in 2008 and a Master of Science in operational analysis from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in 2009, both by correspondence while on active duty. He completed Joint Professional Military Education at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2017.

Military career

Flying career

Friedel earned pilot wings at Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base in 1998 and transitioned to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. He flew the F-16 in six block variants (Blocks 25, 30, 40, 42, 50, and 52) as well as the T-37, T-38, AT-38, and C-130J, accumulating more than 2,900 fighter hours including 404 combat hours and serving as a mission commander, instructor pilot, weapons instructor pilot, operational test and evaluation instructor pilot, and flight evaluator.

His early assignments included tours with the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea; the 421st Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah; and deployments in support of Operation Northern Watch. From October 2001 to December 2002 he served at the 421st FS as a flight commander and Noble Eagle detachment commander, flying Operation Noble Eagle air defense sorties after the September 11 attacks.

Friedel graduated from the United States Air Force Weapons School, F-16 Division, at Nellis Air Force Base in July 2003. He subsequently served with the 23rd Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, as chief of weapons and flight commander from July 2003 to May 2006, then with the 389th Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, from May 2006 to April 2007. He served as an operational test instructor pilot with the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron from April to December 2007 and with the 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base from December 2007 to May 2009, including a period as division commander of the 59th TES.

Staff and command assignments

After completing a master's degree at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Friedel served as Chief of the Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe Operations and Training Branch at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from July 2010 to August 2012. During this European staff tour he was designated as a Combat Air Forces Liaison Officer and participated in Operation Odyssey Dawn as part of the Air Component Coordination Element supporting the joint task force during operations over Libya in 2011.

From April 2013 to January 2014 he commanded the 451st Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, and from January to April 2014 served as Deputy Director of Operations for United States Air Forces Central (Forward) at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. From August 2014 to June 2017 he was Chief of the Air and Sea Branch, J-8, at the Pentagon, serving on the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a joint duty capacity.

From June 2017 to July 2018 Friedel served as a National Defense Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, conducting research as part of the Air Force's senior leader development program. He served as Vice Commander of the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base, South Korea, from July 2018 to June 2020.

35th Fighter Wing command

Friedel assumed command of the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base on July 13, 2020, when Colonel Kristopher W. Struve relinquished command in a ceremony presided over by Lieutenant General Kevin B. Schneider, Commander of United States Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force. The wing operates F-16CM Fighting Falcons and is the Air Force's primary overseas unit assigned the suppression of enemy air defenses mission, comprising approximately 3,100 personnel. His tenure coincided with increasing tensions between the United States and China and the COVID-19 pandemic. At the June 2022 change of command, Friedel described Misawa's strategic position: "We're in a fairly critical location, we deter the adversaries through our presence here, on top of our readiness and the ability to project combat air power." The Pacific Air Forces Commanding General recognized Friedel with the Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award in 2021.

Friedel relinquished command on June 30, 2022, in a ceremony at which Colonel Michael P. Richard assumed command.

AFOTEC command

After relinquishing the 35th FW, Friedel served as Deputy Commander of Fifth Air Force at Yokota Air Base, Japan, from July 2022 to June 2024, during which he was promoted to brigadier general on August 2, 2023. From June 2024 to August 2025 he served as Deputy Commander of the United States Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, before assuming command of AFOTEC.

Friedel assumed command of AFOTEC on September 16, 2025, succeeding Major General Michael Drowley, who transferred to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, as Special Assistant to the Pacific Air Forces Commander. AFOTEC evaluates more than 98 major acquisition programs worth more than $1 trillion and employs more than 750 military, civilian, and contractor personnel at 17 locations.

Awards and decorations

Friedel is the recipient of the following awards:

	Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Bronze Star Medal
File:Defense Meritorious Service ribbon.svg	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
File:Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon.svg	Aerial Achievement Medal
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Air and Space Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
File:Air and Space Achievement Medal ribbon.svg	Air and Space Achievement Medal
File:Air Force Combat Action Medal ribbon.png	Combat Action Medal
File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 3Class BAR.svg	Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (Government of Japan)

The Government of Japan also awarded Friedel the Defense Cooperation Medal. He received the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara from the Air Defense Artillery Association.

See also

• Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center
• 35th Fighter Wing
• United States Air Force Weapons School
• Center for Strategic and International Studies

References

Military offices
Preceded by Kristopher W. Struve	Commander of the 35th Fighter Wing 2020–2022	Succeeded by Michael P. Richard
Preceded by Leonard Kosinski	Deputy Commander of Fifth Air Force 2022–2024	Succeeded by
Preceded by Michael Drowley	Commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center 2025–present	Succeeded by incumbent

This article "Jesse J. Friedel" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Jesse J. Friedel. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

---