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General Gary North
General (ret) Gary North serves as Vice President for Customer Requirements, Aeronautics at Lockheed Martin, acting as the primary liaison for all Aeronautics program customers. In this role he ensures the corporation meets strategic milestones and contractual obligations, with particular responsibility for fulfilling United States and international F‑35 customer requirements and for coordinating the program’s global industrial‑partner commitments.
Before joining Lockheed Martin in January 2013, he completed a 36‑year U.S. Air Force career, retiring as a four‑star General. He commanded at every level—from squadron to major command—and held several senior operational, command, and staff positions. Notable assignments include:
- Commander, Pacific Air Forces – also served as Joint Force Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command, overseeing all Air Force operations in the Indo‑Pacific.
- Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central (2006‑2009) – acted as Combined Forces Air Component Commander for U.S. CENTCOM, directing air operations for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
- Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff – managed Pacific‑theater air operations and served as Joint Force Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command.
- Director of Operations, U.S. Pacific Command (2004‑2006) – coordinated joint operational planning across the Pacific theater.
A command pilot, General North accumulated more than 4,700 flight hours, primarily in the F‑16, F‑15C, and F‑4G, and flew 83 combat missions in Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. He graduated from the Air Force F‑16 Fighter Weapons School.
His education includes a B.A. in Political Science (East Carolina University) and three master’s degrees: Public Administration and Human‑Resource Management (Golden Gate University) and National Resource Strategy (Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University).
