Jennifer Short
Jennifer Short | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Born | 1970 or 1971 (age 53–54) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1995–2025 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | 23rd Wing 358th Fighter Squadron |
| Awards | Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) |
| Spouse(s) |
Scott Evens (m. 2010) |
Jennifer Marie Short (born 1971) is a United States Air Force lieutenant general who last served as the senior military assistant to the secretary of defense from October 2024 to February 2025. She most recently served as the director of legislative affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Prior to that she served as the deputy director for strategic planning and policy at United States Indo-Pacific Command.[1][2][3][4]
Lieutenant General Short is a command pilot with more than 1,800 hours in the A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog).[5]
Military career
[edit]In July 2024, Short was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as the senior military assistant to the secretary of defense.[6][7]
Over her 30-year military career, Short has held a variety of positions at the squadron, wing, major command, headquarters and combatant command levels, including serving as commander of the storied 23rd Wing, home of the legendary "Flying Tigers" at Moody Air Force Base, GA, and director of legislative affairs at United States Central Command.[8]
She is a command pilot with more than 1,800 hours. She has flown more than 430 combat hours in the A-10 in operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.[9]
Education
[edit]In 1993, Short graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Arizona State University. In 1995, she completed Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, as a distinguished graduate. She has held a variety of positions at the squadron, wing, major command, headquarters and combatant command levels.[10]
End of tenure
[edit]On 22 February 2025, Short was relieved of her assignment as senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense, by the newly appointed Secretary Pete Hegseth.[11]
Personal life
[edit]Short is the third person in her family to ascend to the general officer ranks in the Air Force. Her late father, Michael Short, retired from the Air Force in 2000 at the rank of lieutenant general after serving in his final assignment as NATO's Joint Air Force Component Commander for Operation Allied Force during the 78-day war in Kosovo. Earlier in his career he flew 276 combat missions in Vietnam in the F-4 and was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third highest award for gallantry in action.[12] Short's brother, Christopher M. Short, retired in 2019 at the rank of brigadier general.[13]
Short married Scott Evens on 23 October 2010.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "BRIGADIER GENERAL JENNIFER M. SHORT". www.af.mil.
- ^ "Entrance". www.af.mil.
- ^ "23D WING CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY". Moody Air Force Base. 29 May 2019.
- ^ "Jennifer Short". International Women's Forum - Public site.
- ^ "Site Up". www.af.mil. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ "PN2007 — Maj. Gen. Jennifer M. Short — Air Force". United States Congress. 25 July 2024.
- ^ "General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
- ^ "Site Up". www.af.mil. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ "Site Up". www.af.mil. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ "Site Up". www.af.mil. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ Martinez, Luis; Seyler, Matt (22 February 2025). "Trump fires CQ Brown as Joint Chiefs chairman". ABC News. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ "Obituary for Michael Charles Short at W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home". www.wjsmithandson.com. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ "Obituary for Michael Charles Short at W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home". www.wjsmithandson.com. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ "Jennifer Short, Scott Evens". The New York Times. 30 October 2010.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Jennifer M. Short at Wikimedia Commons
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