Major General Chad “Sparky” Franks retired from the Air Force after 31 years of dedicated service.  He culminated his career as the Commander, 15th Air Force, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. General Franks was responsible for organizing, training and equipping 13 wings and three direct reporting units in Air Combat Command ensuring operational readiness of over 800 aircraft and 47,000 Airmen.

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General Franks was commissioned in 1990 as a graduate of the University of New Orleans Air Force ROTC program. He has served in a variety of flying positions during assignments in Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Education and Training Command and Air Combat Command.  General Franks is a decorated command pilot with more than 3200 flying hours in the MH-60G, HH-60G, HC-130, and T-37 including combat hours flown in Europe and Southwest Asia.

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Chad has served in several high-profile positions including Chief of Staff for the Combined Forces Air Component Commander in Southwest Asia, Senior Executive Officer to the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, Vice Commander Fourteenth Air Force in Air Force Space Command, and as Deputy Commanding General for Operations and Intelligence, Operation Inherent Resolve in Baghdad, Iraq.  He has commanded at the Numbered Air Force, wing, group and squadron level. He has deployed in support of Operations Provide Comfort, Northern Watch, Allied Force, Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve. 

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General Franks’ area of expertise includes operations, strategic development, risk management, team building, leading large organizations, and change management.  He was awarded a Master’s in Strategy Studies from the U.S. Army War College as well as a Master’s in Military Operational Art and Science from the USAF Air Command and Staff College. Chad co-authored Leadership at 100 Feet with Jake Polumbo, Rob Polumbo and Larry Martin.

Chad and his wife Kim of over 32 years reside in Monument, Colorado.  Their oldest son, Logan and his wife Carla live in Valdosta, Georgia where Logan is an ICU nurse. Chad and Kim’s youngest son, Tyler, lives in Denver, CO and works for a nationally known advertising company.