John Jumper was born on February 4, 1945 in Paris, Texas. Jumper has stated that his father general Jimmy Jefferson Jumper enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II "probably for a way to get out of Paris, Texas", became a pilot, and retired as a two star general. While his father served in the occupation of Japan after World War II, John and his mother once traveled aboard a liberty ship to join his father there.[2] John Jumper's grandfather, Delbert Lee Jumper was a cotton farmer from Paris, Texas and served in the U.S. Navy during World War One.[3][4][5]
Prior to becoming Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the general served as Commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base. Jumper has also served at the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, as the Senior Military Assistant to two secretaries of defense, and as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Roles and Missions. A command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, principally in fighter aircraft, Jumper served two tours in Southeast Asia, accumulating more than 1,400 combat hours. Jumper retired from the Air Force on November 1, 2005.
In June 2007 Jumper joined Board of Directors of Science Applications International Corporation, a federal contractor company.[6]
On March 1, 2012 Jumper became SAIC's CEO[7] and was essential in splitting the company into two. After the split Jumper remained the CEO of the company which changed its name to Leidos.[8] Jumper retired as CEO in July 2014, when Roger Krone succeeded him as the company's new CEO, but Jumper stayed on as chairman of the company's board of directors.[9]
Honors
The General John P. Jumper Awards for Excellence in Warfighting Integration is named in his honor.[10]
On May 18, 2024 Nellis Airforce Base dedicated its new headquarters building in honor of Jumper. It was named the General John P. Jumper Headquarters Complex. During the ceremony retired Airforce General Lori Robinson stated "Today we are honoring a leader, warrior, mentor and visionary — someone who represents the heart and soul of our Air Force".[11]
Family
Jumper has three daughters Melissa, Catherine, and Janet. All of whom have served in the Air Force.[12] On November 6, 2022 his daughter Catherine was promoted to brigadier general and Commander of the Virginia National Guard Air Component. John Jumper served as the presiding official over the ceremony.[13]
On June 7, 2005 General Jumper apologized to Senator McCain for internal Air Force emails about the Senator in the context of the tanker lease scandal, calling them "unprofessional and not worthy of a great Air Force."[16]
Thunderbirds "Thundervision" Scandal
Members of the United States Air Force were under investigation by the FBI for having awarded a $50 million contract for audio-visual presentation services to Strategic Message Solutions of Plymouth Meeting, Pa.[17][18][19] The contract involved the "Thundervision" project, meant to provide oversized video screens and perhaps content services during air shows that featured the Air Force Thunderbirds. The investigation revolves around possible involvement of Jumper, and then Chief of Staff of the Air Force T. Michael Moseley. It was suggested that the contract price was inflated, because a friend of the two generals, Air Force General (ret.) Hal Hornburg, was associated with Strategic Message Solutions.[20] Two companies involved in the bidding process protested award of the contract, one having offered comparable services for half as much. The Air Force later cancelled the contract.[21]
^"Biographical and Financial Information Requested of Nominees". Hearings Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate (PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 2002. pp. 1373–1376. ISBN 9780160692970. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
^"John P. Jumper - U. S. A. F. - Vietnam - Oral History Project". ohp.rwnaf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
^"SAI Investor Relations - Board of Directors". Archived from the original on 2013-06-12. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
^"SAIC Announces CEO Succession" (Press release).
^Aitoro, Jill R. (27 September 2013). "What to expect from Leidos and SAIC when they start trading Sept. 30". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
^Jayakumar, Amrita (1 July 2014). "Leidos taps Boeing executive as new CEO". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
^"Nellis dedicates headquarters building to retired Gen. John P. Jumper". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
^"U.S. Air Force: A family business". Sheppard Air Force Base. 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
^"Jumper promoted to brigadier general, takes command of VaANG". DVIDS. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
^"IMDB Cast listing for episode "The Lost City: Part 2"". IMDb. lists John P. Jumper playing himself
^ a b c d e f g h"John P. Jumper". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
^Report Faults Air Force on Proposed Boeing Deal
^The San Francisco Chronicle http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/05/19/national/w141413D78.DTL. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^"FBI Investigating $50 Million Air Force Contract". Archived from the original on 2006-11-09. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
^"While troops get their heads blown off in Iraq... | TPMCafe". Archived from the original on 2006-07-02. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
^"Biographies : GENERAL HAL M. HORNBURG". Archived from the original on May 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
^"Air Force terminates contract". Archived from the original on 2006-11-09. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
External links
Biography of General Jumper, USAF, September 2005.