Prior to becoming Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the general served as commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base. Jumper has also served at the Pentagon as deputy chief of staff for air and space operations, as the senior military assistant to two secretaries of defense, and as special assistant to the chief of staff for roles and missions. A command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, principally in fighter aircraft, Jumper served two tours in Southeast Asia, accumulating more than 1,400 combat hours. Jumper later retired from the Air Force on November 1, 2005.[11]
During the 9/11 terrorist attacks he was stationed at the Pentagon having sworn in as Air Force Chief of Staff just five days earlier. By 9:33 am air traffic control warned that a third high jacked airplane was flying off course. Jumper stated in an interview “We knew instantly we were the likely target.” By 9:37 am the plane struck the opposite side of the building and Jumper stated “James Roche was standing at his desk on the telephone looking out his window. I grabbed him by the collar, and as I pulled him into the hallway, the whole building rattled.” Jumper and his staff retreated to the basement command center of the Pentagon to help ensure continuity of the U.S. Government.[12]
In June 2007 Jumper joined board of directors of Science Applications International Corporation, a federal contractor company.[13] On March 1, 2012 Jumper became SAIC's CEO[14] and was essential in splitting the company into two. After the split Jumper remained the CEO of the company which changed its name to Leidos.[15] Jumper retired as CEO in July 2014, when Roger Krone succeeded him as the company's new CEO, but Jumper stayed on as chairman of the company's board of directors.[16]
Personal life
Jumper's wife is named Ellen McGhee and they have three daughters Melissa, Catherine, and Janet, all of whom have served in the Air Force.[17][18][19]
On November 6, 2022 his daughter Catherine was promoted to brigadier general and Commander of the Virginia National Guard Air Component. John Jumper served as the presiding official over the ceremony.[20]
The General John P. Jumper Awards for Excellence in Warfighting Integration is named in his honor.[23]
He is in the Virginia Military Institute Air Force ROTC Hall of Fame[24]
On May 18, 2024 Nellis Air Force Base dedicated its new headquarters building in honor of Jumper. It was named the General John P. Jumper Headquarters Complex. During the ceremony retired Air Force General Lori Robinson stated "Today we are honoring a leader, warrior, mentor and visionary — someone who represents the heart and soul of our Air Force".[25]
On June 7, 2005 General Jumper apologized to Senator McCain for internal Air Force emails about the Senator in the context of the tanker lease scandal, calling them "unprofessional and not worthy of a great Air Force."[27]
Thunderbirds "Thundervision" Scandal
Members of the United States Air Force were under investigation by the FBI for having awarded a $50 million contract for audio-visual presentation services to Strategic Message Solutions of Plymouth Meeting, Pa.[28][29][30] The contract involved the "Thundervision" project, meant to provide oversized video screens and perhaps content services during air shows that featured the Air Force Thunderbirds. The investigation revolves around possible involvement of Jumper, and then Chief of Staff of the Air Force T. Michael Moseley.
It was suggested that the contract price was inflated, because a friend of the two generals, Air Force General (ret.) Hal Hornburg, was associated with Strategic Message Solutions.[31] Two companies involved in the bidding process protested award of the contract, one having offered comparable services for half as much. The Air Force later cancelled the contract.[32]
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