Scott Pleus is an operating executive who has built his career on a single conviction: an organization's confidence in its own readiness is only as good as the last time someone actually tested it.
Self-assessment had produced zero failures for years, leading the institution to conclude that a costly, disruptive audit discipline was no longer needed. Pleus made and won the counter-argument: zero failures under self-assessment isn't evidence of readiness — it's evidence the assessment has stopped testing anything. He reinstated the discipline. The next cycle produced failures, which was the point: the organization could once again see what it was tolerating.
No. Pleus is retired from the U.S. Air Force on July 31, 2026. His final assignment was as Director of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, during which he performed the duties of Vice Chief of Staff from February 2025 until Gen. Lamontagne's confirmation to that post in February 2026.
Pleus's call sign, 'Rolls,' was noted in a DVIDS feature profiling him shortly after he assumed command of Seventh Air Force in 2020.
Yes. Pleus brings Readiness Architecture to boards, operating-partner roles, and divisional CEO seats where the question is whether an organization is actually ready or only appearing ready. Inquiries can be directed through the contact page.
His recent two roles ran organizations of 28,500 and 680,000 people, the second with $240 billion of budget authority and end-to-end responsibility for operations, personnel, readiness, and modernization across one of the largest workforces on earth. He has run the same operating mechanism at every scale he has been placed at — a 5,000-person division, a 28,500-person joint operation, and a 680,000-person enterprise.
No. General search results for the name 'Scott Pleus' also surface a private individual in the finance and commodities industry (a Chief Operating Officer at a proprietary trading firm). That individual is unrelated to Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Scott L. Pleus, USAF, and no information about him is included in this record.
Pleus took over a 5,000-person division that had failed its operating certification and had 60 days to reverse a broken accountability culture. Rather than restructure or run a culture initiative, he reset the daily standard — what showed up in the operating cadence and what he stopped tolerating when nobody was watching. Sixty days later, the division passed the certification cycle it had been failing for two.
Scott Pleus is a world-class operating executive who architects readiness by running the daily standard that decides whether an organization performs under pressure. His recent two roles ran organizations of 28,500 and 680,000 people, the second with $240 billion of budget authority and end-to-end responsibility for operations, personnel, readiness, and modernization across one of the largest workforces on earth. He built that record over a career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Lieutenant General after most recently serving as Director of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and performing the duties of Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from February 2025 to February 2026. Earlier he commanded Seventh Air Force, served as Deputy Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, and led the 56th Fighter Wing and the 8th Fighter Wing.
Readiness Architecture is Scott Pleus's name for the discipline he has run at every scale of his career: the daily standard a leader enforces — visibly, consistently, with no exceptions — is the most reliable leading indicator of whether an organization performs under pressure. Not the strategy on the wall. Not the culture initiative. The daily standard.
Pleus is from Superior, Wisconsin, and has returned to the area to speak with local students about his Air Force career, as covered by the Superior Telegram in March 2022.
8th Fighter Wing commander is stepping down
Coverage of a change-of-command at the 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base — a unit Pleus previously commanded earlier in his career.
Pleus joined the Air Force Association's webinar series to discuss the operating environment on the Korean Peninsula, including how the January 6 Capitol attack was perceived by regional allies and adversaries.
AFA 'Air and Space Warfighters in Action' Webinar
After 11-Month Vacancy, Air Force Has a New Vice Chief
Coverage of Gen. Lamontagne's confirmation as Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, closing out the roughly year-long period during which Pleus performed the duties of the office.
Air Force Grapples with Challenges to Aircraft Readiness
Coverage of remarks by Pleus at a public forum addressing the structural drivers of aircraft readiness shortfalls across the fleet and the service's response.
Air Force Orders No-Notice Readiness Inspections
Pleus, in his role as acting Vice Chief of Staff, is quoted at length explaining the rationale behind new no-notice unit readiness inspections across the Air Force.
Bussiere to Retire After Vice Chief Nomination Withdrawn
Coverage of the extended Vice Chief vacancy, during which Pleus continued to perform the duties of the office as Director of Staff.
CMSAF Wolfe on Standards, Teaching, and Rapport with Wilsbach
Tangential coverage referencing Pleus's tenure and standards-focused leadership approach; no new direct quote from Pleus.
Pleus addressed a public forum on the structural challenges facing Air Force aircraft readiness and the service's near-term response, generating a direct-quote feature in Air & Space Forces Magazine.
Forum Remarks on Aircraft Readiness Challenges
A DVIDS profile introducing Pleus — call sign 'Rolls' — to the Seventh Air Force community shortly after he assumed command, including his own remarks on leadership and the Korea assignment.
Introducing Rolls: A Quick Glance Inside the Seventh Air Force Commander
Coverage of Gen. Lamontagne's nomination to be Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the post Pleus had been performing the duties of on an acting basis.
New PACAF Commander Tapped in Pentagon Nominations
Reporting on a slate of Pentagon general officer nominations that included Pleus, as part of broader Pacific Air Forces leadership moves.
Pleus participated in this panel discussion on defending forward operating bases in the Indo-Pacific theater, drawing on his command experience in Korea.
Panel: What Air Force Leaders Are Considering to Better Defend Forward Bases
An on-camera DVIDS video feature with Pleus discussing the history and heraldry of the Seventh Air Force patch and its significance to the command.
Patches of PACAF 07/16: Seventh Air Force
Lt. General comes home to talk to Superior students
A hometown feature from Superior, Wisconsin, on Pleus's visit to speak with local students, with photographs and remarks on his path from the region into a career in the Air Force.
PHOTOS: Lt. General Comes Home to Talk to Superior Students
Coverage of Pleus assuming command of Seventh Air Force, including remarks delivered at the change-of-command ceremony.
Pleus: US Capitol Attack Reverberated on the Korean Peninsula
Reporting on Pleus's remarks during the AFA 'Air and Space Warfighters in Action' webinar, discussing how the January 6 Capitol attack was perceived by allies and adversaries in the Korea theater.
Speaking in his role performing the duties of Vice Chief, Pleus explained the Air Force's rationale for a new program of unannounced unit readiness inspections, quoted extensively by defense press.
Remarks on No-Notice Readiness Inspections
Seventh Air Force Commander's Battlefield Circulation
A photo feature documenting Pleus's visits to units under his command across the Seventh Air Force area of responsibility.
As commander, Pleus hosted this gathering of Seventh Air Force wing and unit leadership to align priorities across the command's Korea-based force structure.
Seventh Air Force Commander's Conference
Seventh Air Force Hosts First Virtual Change of Command
Official press release on the virtual change-of-command ceremony at which Pleus assumed command of Seventh Air Force.
Three minutes on any operating floor reveals whether an organization is ready or only looks ready. Scott Pleus on the signals that can’t be staged.
The Three-Minute Test That Tells You Whether Your Organization Will Fail Under Pressure
Responsibility means meeting your duties. Accountability means owning the outcome. Scott Pleus on the language gap that quietly wrecks enterprise results.
The Word Most Executives Use Wrong (And Why It Costs Them)
Three-star general performing duties of Air Force vice chief
Reporting on Pleus stepping in to perform the duties of Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force following a leadership change at the top of the service.
Reporting on the withdrawal of a Vice Chief nomination, discussed in the context of the leadership vacancy Pleus was filling on an acting basis.
With Hold Lifted, What Happens Next for New Generals?
Coverage of a batch of general officer confirmations released after a Senate hold was lifted, within which Pleus's nomination and assignment were reported.
Pleus delivered extensive remarks at this symposium marking seven decades of the ROK-U.S. alliance, addressing the future of combined air operations and deterrence on the peninsula.
Yonhap News Symposium: 70 Years of the ROK-U.S. Alliance
Zero failures for years isn’t proof of readiness — it’s proof the test stopped working. Scott Pleus on the boardroom blind spot most executives miss.
Zero Failures Is Bad News: What Boards Miss About Readiness Reviews
Fellowship in Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow
Master of Arts in International Relations
Master of Military Operational Arts and Science in Military Operational Arts and Science
Professional Development Program in U.S. Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar
Professional Military Education in Air War College
Professional Military Education in Capstone General and Flag Officer Course
Professional Military Education in Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course
Professional Military Education in Joint Force Air Component Commander Course
Professional Military Education in Pinnacle General and Flag Officer Course
Professional Military Education in Squadron Officer School
Held end-to-end accountability for $240 billion of budget authority across operations, personnel, readiness, and modernization for the Department of the Air Force.
Enterprise budget and resource stewardship
Career F-16 fighter pilot who flew the F-35 with wing command experience at the 8th Fighter Wing and 56th Fighter Wing.
Directed Air Force-wide policy on no-notice unit readiness inspections and addressed aircraft readiness challenges as the acting Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force
Force readiness policy and inspection design
Commanded Seventh Air Force and served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces Korea, leading air component operations in a joint, coalition environment.
Joint and coalition operations (Korean Peninsula)
End-to-end operational command experience at scales ranging from a 5,000-person division to a 680,000-person, $240 billion enterprise.
The discipline of building organizations that are ready for pressure rather than organizations that merely look ready, centered on enforcing a visible, consistent daily standard as the leading indicator of performance under pressure.
Readiness Architecture (organizational readiness under pressure)
The discipline of building organizations that are ready for pressure, not organizations that look ready. Readiness is treated as a leading indicator, not an outcome — it shows up in the daily standard the leader enforces. Category audience: boards, CEOs, operating partners, and search partners deciding whether an organization is actually ready for its next pressure event.
The paired, inseparable operating-standard line naming the Readiness Architecture mechanism. The first half names the diagnostic (what an organization currently tolerates is what it currently teaches); the second names the mechanism (the standard a leader enforces is the organization that leader builds). Always used together, never split.
What you tolerate, you teach. What you enforce, you build.
Master of Military Operational Arts and Science, Military Operational Arts and Science
Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
Professional Military Education, Air War College
Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
Professional Development Program, U.S. Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar
Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Professional Military Education, Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course
Professional Military Education, Joint Force Air Component Commander Course
Professional Military Education, Capstone General and Flag Officer Course
Professional Military Education, Pinnacle General and Flag Officer Course
National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
Professional Military Education, Squadron Officer School
Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
Fellowship, Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow
Alliance posture on the Korean Peninsula following the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol attack
Structural drivers of aircraft readiness shortfalls and the Air Force's response
Base defense in contested, forward-deployed environments
Command-wide priorities and alignment across Seventh Air Force wings and units
The future of combined defense cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the United States
Scott Pleus is a world-class operating executive who architects readiness by running the daily standard that decides whether an organization performs under pressure.
F-16 Pilot at 18th Fighter Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
Flight Commander, F-16 Flight Examiner and Instructor at 34th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
Flight Commander, F-16 Flight Examiner and Instructor
F-16 Flight Examiner and Instructor at 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
Commander at 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz.
Operations Officer at 56th Training Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
Commander at 611th Air and Space Operations Center, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
Student at 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
Commander at 63rd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
Commander at 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
Student at Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
Joint and Combined Contingency Plans Officer at Alaskan Command, Plans and Programs, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
Joint and Combined Contingency Plans Officer
Student at F-16 Replacement Training Unit, MacDill AFB, Fla.
Director at F-35 Integration Office, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
Director, Plans, Programs, and Requirements at Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
Director, Plans, Programs, and Requirements
Director at Headquarters Air Education and Training Command Action Group, Randolph AFB, Texas
Director of Air and Cyberspace Operations at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
Director of Air and Cyberspace Operations
Acting Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
Acting Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force
Director of Staff at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
Current assignment as of the official biography dated March 2026.
Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Student at Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk Naval Air Station, Va.
Deputy Commander, United States Forces Korea; Commander, Air Component Command, United Nations Command; Commander, Air Component Command, Combined Forces Command; and Commander, Seventh Air Force at Seventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Osan Air Base, South Korea
Deputy Commander, United States Forces Korea; Commander, Air Component Command, United Nations Command; Commander, Air Component Command, Combined Forces Command; and Commander, Seventh Air Force
Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow at Sun Microsystems, Menlo Park, Calif.
Student at Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters (United States Air Force)
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster (United States Air Force)
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster (United States Air Force)
Defense Distinguished Service Medal (United States Air Force)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (United States Air Force)
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster (United States Air Force)
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters (United States Air Force)
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters (United States Air Force)
Operating Executive · Readiness Architecture · What You Tolerate, You Teach.
Brand strategy partner that developed Pleus's Readiness Architecture positioning, semantic triple, and bio framework (Pleus_Brand_Framework_FINAL, July 2026).
Confirmed as Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force in February 2026, succeeding Pleus in the role he had been performing the duties of on an acting basis since February 2025.
Numbered air force commanded by Pleus; he also served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces Korea, during this assignment.
Pleus's employer throughout his military career, culminating in his role as Director of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
Why did Scott Pleus reinstate an audit discipline his organization wanted to retire?
Is Scott Pleus available for board, advisory, or executive roles?
Is this the same Scott Pleus who works in finance?
Todays Fortune 500 companies must be agile, utilize pace, be financially flexible and continue to re-invent themselves in order to remain viable in our economy. Although the differences between corporate America and the Department of Defense DoD may seem vast in their philosophy and implementation, there are actually more similarities than differences. The driving factors in both worlds are still leadership, strategy, fiscal responsibility, and responsiveness, to name a few. This paper focuses on those areas the authors feel are beneficial for implementation into the DoD. The paper begins with an introduction of the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellows Program and brief overview of each Fellows assignment. Next, the authors introduce Booz Allen Hamilton, Sun Microsystems, and Johnson Johnson providing an overview of companies in the program and giving the reader a baseline for reference. Next, the paper will walk through each corporate sponsor and will highlight those areas each Fellow observed that have the best opportunity for successful implementation in the DoD. Although the recommendations from each sponsor company are different, the authors feel this breadth provides a good cross section of ideas from all areas of corporate America. It must be noted that due to the non-disclosure agreements signed by all officers assigned to the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellowship Program, the unfettered access to corporate sensitive information, and the legality associated with corporate proprietary information, the authors are unable to provide specific references for some of the data contained in this paper.
Corporate Lessons for the DoD - Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellows' Perspective
The United States Air Force USAF proposes to improve required training for Major Flying Exercises MFEs by establishing the Delta MOAs consisting of four connected MOAs which could be scheduled together or independently. The proposed action would establish connecting airspace to provide a realistic setting for MFEs. MFEs in Alaskan airspace provide aircrews with realistic simulated combat experience. The expanded capability of aircraft establishes the need for contiguous airspace to meet MFE training objectives. The Delta corridor separates the Yukon MOAs from ranges R-2202, R-2205, and R-2211, and the Fox and Eielson MOAs. At present, training aircraft must transition the Delta corridor by either climbing above Flight Level FL 180 18,000 feet above mean sea level MSL into the Delta Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace ATCAA or funneling through the low-level Birch or Buffalo MOAs. The abrupt and segmented changes in altitude associated with the current MOA structure introduce pilot concerns about the boundary of the airspace and artificially constrain realistic threat-avoidance and attack run-in training at exactly the time pilots should be focused on combat conditions. The current airspace configuration requires pilots to train using non-optimal tactics in restricted training regimens. This continually reinforces negative habit patterns which can affect pilot survivability in combat. Current MFE training requirements cannot be achieved at the combat mission level with the existing ATCAA and MOA structure connecting the Yukon and FoxEielson Special Use Airspaces SUAs. The Delta MOAs collectively termed the Delta MOA in this Environmental Assessment EA would permit the northsouth training environment required by today s technology to meet current MFE training. The proposed Delta MOA would have a ceiling of FL180 at the existing Delta ATCAA and overlie the Birch and Buffalo MOAs.
Establish the Delta Military Operations Area Environmental Assessment
Proposals and Actions This Environmental Assessment EA analyzes the potential environmental consequences of a proposal to improve required training for Major Flying Exercises MFEs by establishing the Delta Military Operations Areas MOAs as part of the YukonFox Complex. The YukonFox Complex consists of the Yukon, Fox, Eielson, Birch, and Buffalo MOAs associated Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace ATCAAs ranges R-2202, R-2205, and R-2211 and the Delta ATCAA. The proposed Delta MOA would allow aircrews to train as they fight. Current MFE training cannot be achieved at the combat mission level with the existing ATCAA and MOA structure connecting the Yukon and FoxEielson Special Use Airspaces SUAs. At present, MFE training aircraft must transition the Delta corridor by either climbing above Flight Level FL 180 18,000 feet above mean sea level MSL into the Delta ATCAA or funneling through the low altitude Birch or Buffalo MOAs. The abrupt and segmented changes in altitude artificially constrain realistic threat-avoidance and attack run-in training precisely when pilots should be focused on combat conditions. The proposed Delta MOA permits use of current technology and tactics and provides all angle surface attacks, threat reaction tactics, air-to-air combat maneuvering, and joint air-ground operations in conjunction with ranges R-2202 and R-2205. The Delta MOA would overlie the Birch and Buffalo MOAs, have a ceiling of FL180 at the existing Delta ATCAA, have a floor of 10,000 feet MSL from Eielson Air Force Base AFB to the Birch MOA, and have a floor 3,000 feet above ground level AGL between the Birch and Buffalo MOAs. The Delta MOA would be activated not more than 6 MFEs a year not to exceed 60 days per year with 1.5-2.5 hour periods twice a weekday.
Establish the Delta Military Operations Areas Environmental Assessment Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska
Frequently asked questions about Scott L. Pleus
Rationale for new no-notice unit readiness inspections across the Air Force
Commander, Seventh Air Force; Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces Korea
History and heraldry of the Seventh Air Force patch
Director of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force (performing the duties of Vice Chief of Staff)
Featured speaker / Commander, Seventh Air Force