Across the U.S. Department of Defense, there are approximately 650 commissioned flag officers, known as generals or admirals. Achieving this rank is a testament to a service member’s dedication, knowledge, leadership and ability to effect change.
For retired U.S. Air Force (USAF) Brigadier General Jeff Wilkinson ’89 the path to becoming a flag officer, and the first ever combat rescue officer to be promoted to the rank of general across the USAF, began at Syracuse University as an Air Force ROTC cadet.
Wilkinson, who served primarily in Air Force Special Tactics, didn’t initially see himself rising through the ranks. However, a call to service has guided him throughout his career.
“Growing up, I was interested in the outdoors, adventures as a Boy Scout, military air shows, museums and that sort of thing. I got serious in high school while figuring out how to pay for school and what I wanted to do,” says Wilkinson, a Buffalo, New York, native who was drawn to Syracuse University through his passion for music and playing the saxophone.
“I started pursuing scholarships. I applied for and received an Air Force scholarship and decided I wanted to be an officer and lead. It was a pathway that allowed me to attend Syracuse and be part of its excellent programs,” Wilkinson says.
Music played a significant role in attracting Wilkinson to Syracuse, but his undergraduate studies in mathematics and military science delivered opportunities that laid the foundation for his career. Following the loss of his Zeta Psi fraternity brother, Alex Lowenstein, along with 34 fellow students during the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, Wilkinson decided he wanted to make a difference fighting international terrorism.
One of his ROTC instructors suggested he consider the Air Force’s special operations career field. Unlike many military occupations available to him upon graduation, Special Tactics required an application and passing qualifications.
As he rose from second lieutenant to brigadier general, Wilkinson credits his success to the fundamentals he learned as an ROTC cadet. In the spring of 2024, he returned to Syracuse University to share his career insights with ROTC cadets of Detachment 535 before their graduation. As the guest speaker, he shared three key takeaways:
1. Trust in your training.
2. Seek advice from your subordinates and be thoughtful in your decisions.
3. Don’t wait to make a difference.
Interesting in seeing the explanations behind his answers and more of the interview? Read the full story!