Highly Qualified Expert Senior Mentor

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a mentor and instructor for Air Component Senior Leader Course, Combined Senior Staff Course and other senior-level developmental venues, delivering instruction on CFACC, DCFACC and COMAFFOR duties, responsibilities and operational considerations.

Duties

A Highly Qualified Expert - Senior Mentor serves as a mentor and instructor for Air Component Senior Leader Course, Combined Senior Staff Course, and other senior-level developmental venues, delivering instruction on CFACC, DCFACC, and COMAFFOR duties, responsibilities, and operational considerations. The mentor provides expert guidance on integrating a wide range of functional areas, including bomber integration, cyber, logistics, acquisitions, contracting, and experimental capabilities, ensuring instruction is relevant to modern command and control challenges. The role also includes mentoring Command and Control Warrior Advanced Course students by reviewing senior-level decision briefs and providing direct feedback to strengthen operational planning and better prepare planners to support Joint Force Commander requirements. In addition, the position serves as a senior mentor during Department-level, MAJCOM-level, and other major exercises and planning events, helping develop the operational and strategic decision-making skills of senior Air Force leaders. The mentor also supports command and control summits and senior mentor conferences to improve understanding of integrating complex operational capabilities across the force. Finally, the position advises General Officers at the HAF, MAJCOM, and NAF levels by refining decision-support materials, identifying gaps in content or context, assessing options, and highlighting key relationships necessary for effective operational and strategic decisions.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS: Eligibility will be based upon a clear showing the applicant has training, education and experience of the scope and quality sufficient to effectively carry-out the duties of the position. Applicant must reflect superior technical qualifications demonstrated in the following: TQ1: Must possess the General Officer level operational level expertise to provide expert experience-based mentoring, teaching, training, advice, and recommendations to senior military officers, staffs, and students as they participate in war games, warfighting courses, operational planning, operational exercises, and decision-making exercises. TQ2: Must possess General Officer level understanding of command-and-control concepts, tactics, and weapon-system attributes to inform and advise senior military officers and staffs on future equipment, training, and organizational constructs at command and control conferences. The ideal candidate for this position is a retired general officer with extensive command and operational experience in air component command and control, joint operations, and senior leader decision-making. The individual would possess demonstrated expertise in the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the Combined Force Air Component Commander (CFACC) or Deputy CFACC (DCFACC) with the ability to translate that experience into relevant, candid, and practical mentorship for senior officers and future operational planners. The ideal candidate would be capable of instructing and advising across the full range of air component considerations, including force presentation and integration, bomber operations, cyber, logistics, acquisition, contracting, experimentation, and other capabilities required to generate and employ combat power. The candidate would have a record of successful leadership at operational and strategic levels, preferably including experience with Numbered Air Forces, MAJCOM, Headquarters Air Force, joint staffs, combatant commands, or comparable senior headquarters. The position requires mature judgment, professional stature, and the ability to assess complex operational problems, articulate the relative merits and risks of available options, and advise general officers on high-consequence decisions. The individual must be an effective instructor and mentor who can engage senior audiences during courses, exercises, planning events, command and control summits, and executive-level forums; provide clear, direct feedback; and tailor insights to the needs of the audience and the operational scenario. Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills are essential. The candidate must be prepared to support courses, exercises, conferences, and senior-leader engagements on an irregular cycle. Exercise support occasionally requires work beyond normal duty hours.

Education

Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is desired. A master's or advanced degree from an accredited institution is highly desired. An undergraduate technical degree or an advanced degree in either a technical or management field is highly desired.