Terry McCaffrey

Terry McCaffrey, call-sign Marco, is a retired USAF fighter pilot with an exceptional career spanning several single-mission aircraft, including the F-111E Aardvark (Air-to-Ground), the AT-38B Talon (Fighter Trainer), the F-15C Eagle (Air-to-Air) and the T-6A Texan II (Primary Trainer). After graduating from the USAF Academy with a BS in Human Factors Engineering in 1988 and completing pilot training as the Top Contact Pilot at Williams AFB in 1989, Marco was the youngest F-111E pilot in the 79th TFS to fly combat operations during DESERT STORM. After the Gulf War, he remained in Europe and completed Tactical Leadership Program in Belgium and helped ensure NATO’s nuclear commitment in Europe. As an Instructor Pilot on the AT-38B with Fighter Lead-In during a reorganization of USAF Commands in the early 1990s, he led the Air Force’s transition from Air Combat Command (ACC) to Air Education & Training Command (AETC) and was recognized as the Most Valuable Instructor Pilot and Company Grade Officer of the Year in 1995. He transitioned to the F-15C and completed two combat deployments in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He also led bi-national exercises with the JASDF including the first Japanese deployment outside Japan since WWII, Cope North Guam - 1999. Later, Marco was Initial Cadre and first Commander for delivery of the T-6A aircraft into the USAF inventory in the 8th FTS. In addition to flying, he held important staff positions that put him in the middle of huge international operations in the Pacific as well as homeland defense at NORAD after 9-11 where he had a lead role in Operation NOBLE EAGLE. He developed strategy with NATO, NORAD and in the Pacific-theater as well as joint doctrine, education, and policy that impacted the entire US military. Furthermore, he excelled as a change agent leading major structural overhauls as Commander of the 8th Flying Training Squadron and Squadron Officer College. Marco is currently the Vice President of Military and Defense Programs at Enterprise Florida, Inc. where he leads state efforts to preserve, protect, and enhance 20 military installations and defense infrastructure that contribute more than $96.6 billion in economic impact to Florida. Marco holds four master’s degrees, including a MA in Public Administration from Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, TX, MA in Military Art and Science from the Air University in Montgomery, AL, a MA in Airpower Strategy, also from Air University, and a MS in Nation Resource Strategy from National Defense University in Washington, DC. Finally, Marco has written one previous book, “What Happened to BAI? - USAF and USA Doctrine Development 1990-2001” published by Air University Press in 2004 and co-authored two journal articles published in Joint Forces Quarterly: “Burgeoning Courses, Lagging Standardization”, Issue 57, Q-2, 2010 and “Moving the Throttle Forward in the Pacific”, Issue 47, Q-4, 2007.