Scott Howell (Lt Gen. USAF (Ret)

Scott Howell graduated from Trigg County High School 1983 where he was Captain of both Football and Track teams.  Scott Howell was the first Trigg County High School Alumni to graduate from the U. S. Air Force Academy.

Howell was commissioned through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1987 and earned Master’s Degrees from the Air Command & Staff College and the National War College. He is a career special operations helicopter pilot and has deployed extensively with experience in Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Haiti, Kosovo, Mozambique, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Djibouti, and Afghanistan. He is a command pilot with 2,600 hours of flight time across six unique air platforms.

In his role at Joint Special Operations Command, Lt. General Howell oversaw military operations across multiple theaters, and was responsible for the readiness and mission execution of highly-specialized military forces of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Before JSOC he served as the Vice Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command with a focus on organizing, training and equipping more than 70,000 U. S. Special Operations personnel operating in more than 85 countries. In this role he led acquisition, budgeting, programming, and fiscal processes for USSOCOM with the military services, Joint Staff, and Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Lt. Gen. Howell commanded a squadron, group, joint special operations air component, special operations wing, and special operations joint task force. His senior staff positions include service in the HQ Air Force Staff, Air Force Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, and as the Deputy Director of Special Operations at the Joint Staff. 

Before that, then Maj. General Howell commanded all Coalition Special Operations forces in Afghanistan as Commanding General, NATO Special Operations Component Command/U.S. Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan.

Among his multiple senior staff positions, Howell also served as Deputy Director of Special Operations and Counterterrorism for the Joint Staff.

He is a career helicopter pilot with assignments in rescue and special operations, and has deployed extensively.

Speaking at Vanderbilt University’s Project on Unity and American Democracy, Howell said “Unit of purpose, resilience, and a shared commitment to mission is a common trait among the diverse members of special operations teams. These same values are also wide-spread among the citizens of our great republic – now is the time to unify in our shared mission to serve as committed American citizens.”

Awards:                                                                                                                                                               

Defense Superior Service Medal (4)                                                                                             

Legion of Merit                                                                                                                                              

Bronze Star Medal (4)

Howell also serves on the following boards:

Senior Fellow for CAPSTONE                                     

Board of Directors, Special Operations Warrior Foundation 
Advisory Board, Vanderbilt Project on Unity and Democracy 
Advisory Board, Priority 1 Holdings 
Advisory Board, Babel Street  

Lieutenant General Scott Howell retired from the United States Air Force in August 2021 after a 34-year career during which he held a variety of positions of leadership, including most recently as commander of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from July 2018 to June 2021.