Charles R. Holland (born January 21, 1946) is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the commander of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. As commander, he was responsible for all special operations forces across every branch in the U.S. Armed Forces. Currently, Holland is the first and the only member of the U.S. Air Force to serve as commander of USSOCOM, and the only SOCOM commander without the experience as a special operator.

Military career

Holland entered the United States Air Force in 1968 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. His early commands over his career included a squadron and two wings. He flew more than 100 combat missions, including 79 in an AC-130 Gunship in Southeast Asia. He served as Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command, was Commander of the Special Operations Command, Pacific, commanded the Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Florida, and was the Vice Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. His final assignment was commanding USSOCOM at MacDill. He retired November 1, 2003.

Education

1968 Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado 1974 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama 1975 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence 1976 Master of Science degree in business management, Troy State University, Ramstein AB, West Germany 1978 Master of Science degree in astronautical engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 1982 National Security Management Course, by correspondence 1986 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 1990 Program for Senior Officials in National Security, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 1998 National and International Security Management Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Assignments

Flight Information

Rating: Command Pilot Flight hours: More than 5,000 flying hours Aircraft flown: C-130, C-37, AC-130, HC-130, MC-130, MH-53, MH-60, H-3, H-1, T-39

Awards and decorations

Effective dates of promotion