Lieutenant General Donald C. Wurster is a retired United States Air Force officer who served as Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The command is a major command of the United States Air Force and the Air Force component of United States Special Operations Command. AFSOC provides Air Force Special Operations Forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to unified combatant commanders. The command has approximately 12,900 active-duty, Reserve, Air National Guard and civilian professionals.

Military career

Born in Washington, D.C., Wurster was commissioned in 1973 upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy. In 1974, he completed undergraduate helicopter training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Wurster commanded special operations forces at the squadron, group, wing and subunified command level, and he served as commander of all United States forces assigned to Joint Task Force-510 during Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines. Wurster was Deputy Director, Center for Special Operations, United States Special Operations Command, from May 2004 to February 2006. Wurster is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, including assignments in both rescue and special operations. His brother, Charles D. Wurster, retired in 2008 as a vice admiral in the United States Coast Guard. The Wurster family has a record of military service dating back to the Revolutionary War. As three-star flag officers, the brothers hold the highest rank of anyone in their family. Their father, retired USAF Colonel Charles Wurster, was a F-51 and F-80 (P-80) pilot with the 36th Fighter Squadron in the Korean War and became one of only three pilots to score more than one "kill" in all of 1950.

Education

Assignments

Flight Information

Awards and decorations

Effective Dates Of Promotion

Retirement

Wurster retired from the United States Air Force on 24 June 2011, handing over command of AFSOC to Lieutenant General Eric E. Fiel in a ceremony held at Hurlburt Field. His official retirement date was August 1, 2011. "Lt. Gen. Wurster has been a brilliant and strong leader," said Admiral Eric Olson, commander of the United States Special Operations Command. "He led by always putting people first in the air and on the ground. Today is more than a transfer of authority. We say goodbye to a great leader and friend ... Gen. Fiel will now bring his own vision,” Olson added. "There will be challenges, but I've seen him face challenges before and overcome many obstacles. In the transition from one commander to another, I know (AFSOC) will continue to excel." Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz presided over the ceremony. "This is a great time to be amongst the Special Operations Squadron," Schwartz said. "Gen. Wurster will now get to enjoy fishing, hunting and life after command service. This is a new and tremendous chapter for you."