Prior to her recent retirement from the United States Military, General Van Ovost served as the 14th Commander of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), one of the 11 combatant commands in the Department of Defense. Prior to that assignment, she served as the Commander of Air Mobility Command (AMC), U.S. Air Force.
General Van Ovost has a diverse operational and training background, which includes command of an air refueling squadron, a flying training wing and the Presidential Airlift Wing. She is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and a command pilot with more than 4,200 hours in more than 30 aircraft, including the C-32A, C-17A, C-141B, KC-135R and KC-46A. She is also an accomplished general aviation pilot and flight instructor.
She has held several staff and joint assignments, serving as the Director of Staff for Headquarters Air Force, the Vice Director of the Joint Staff, the Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs (Europe, NATO, Russia), Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Staff, the Director of Mobility Forces for U.S. Central Command, the Vice Commander of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, and the Joint Operations Division Chief, Operations and Plans Directorate (J3), USTRANSCOM.
General Van Ovost graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1988 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. She also holds master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, and Military Arts & Sciences and Strategic Studies from the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
Her decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster and the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster.
General Van Ovost has exemplified leadership and unwavering dedication to our country throughout her career of service. Promoted to General in August 2020, General Van Ovost was the senior officer in that rank among the four women four-star generals and admirals across the U.S. military, and acted as a trailblazer for women in the military.
As the head of TRANSCOM, General Van Ovost was responsible for coordinating nearly all movement of U.S. troops, weapons and supplies around the globe via air, land and sea transportation. As the head of AMC, General Van Ovost oversaw the fleet of Air Force mobility aircraft at the heart of the military’s largest non-combatant evacuation in history.
Chairman of Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees, Mori Hosseini, conveyed his enthusiasm for General Van Ovost's leadership and her appointment to the Board of Trustees, stating, "General Van Ovost's exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication to her country make her an invaluable addition to our Board of Trustees."
Throughout her career, General Van Ovost has championed innovation in aerospace operations and systems integration, providing valuable input to technologies that contribute to mission effectiveness and advising on national defense long-term strategies.
“With a diverse operational and training background, General Van Ovost continues to contribute a wealth of experience and expertise to aviation and aerospace,” said President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. “General Van Ovost's distinguished career and profound knowledge of aerospace will significantly contribute to Embry-Riddle’s continued growth and success.”
Though General Van Ovost may be retired from the U.S. Military, she is dedicated to helping advance the country’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) talent pipeline.
“Our nation needs more STEM graduates in order to effectively advance the safety and security of the globe,” General Van Ovost explained. “It’s my pleasure to contribute to this mission by joining the leadership of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a global leader in aviation and aerospace education.”
President Butler added, “General Van Ovost’s significant success will serve as an example of the importance of hard work and resilience to our students. We are incredibly grateful to General Van Ovost for her willingness to serve on our Board of Trustees and look forward to the enhancement of Embry-Riddle's mission and vision, driven by her commitment to excellence and dedication to fostering growth and success in the aerospace field.”
