Meet General Charles F. Wald

Director, Deloitte Services LP , and Leader of Deloitte's Department of Defense Practice, Federal Government Services

General Charles F. Wald (USAF, Ret.) serves as a leader of Deloitte's Department of Defense Practice, Federal Government Services, and is responsible for providing senior leadership in strategy and relationships with the Department of Defense. He is a subject matter specialist in weapons procurement and deployment, counter terrorism, national, energy and international security policy.

General Wald is an acknowledged specialist on Energy Security issues, and is highly sought after to deliver speeches at private industry, institutions and universities, in addition to providing dozens of radio and television interviews and numerous war games involving energy strategy and development.

General Wald retired from the U.S. Air Force as a four star general, after serving over 35 years in the U.S. military as a command pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours, and 430 combat hours. In his last position, he served as deputy commander of U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) from 2002 until his retirement from the U.S. Air Force in July 2006. In that role he was responsible for all U.S. forces operating across 91 countries in Europe, Africa, Russia, parts of Asia, the Middle East, and most of the Atlantic Ocean. During his command, he developed the European Command Strategic plan that included energy assurance and sustainment for the EUCOM AOR.

General Wald earned his commission through the Air Force ROTC program in 1971. He has combat time as an O-2A forward air controller in Vietnam and as an F-16 pilot flying over Bosnia. The general has served as a T-37 instructor pilot and F-15 flight commander. Other duties included Chief of the U.S. Air Force Combat Terrorism Center, support group commander, operations group commander, and special assistant to the Chief of Staff for the Quadrennial Defense Review. He was also the Director of Strategic Planning and Policy at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, served on the Joint Staff as the Vice Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, and he was USAF Deputy Chief of Staff for the Air and Space Operations at the Pentagon.

General Wald commanded the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, where on Aug. 30, 1995, he led one of the wing’s initial strike packages against the ammunition depot at Pale, Bosnia-Herzegovina, in one of the first NATO combat operations. From 1999 – 2001, he commanded the 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., where in September 2001, as the Supporting Commander, he led the development of the coalition air campaign in Operation Enduring Freedom, including the idea of embedding tactical air control parties in ground special operations forces, leading to the extraction of Taliban forces in Afghanistan.

Prior to joining Deloitte, General Wald was the Vice President, International Programs for L-3 Communications Corporation, based in Washington D.C.

General Wald has received major military awards and decorations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and several others. He earned his Master’s Degree in International Relations from Troy University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-law from North Dakota State University. He has completed coursework at Harvard University and the National War College. He has also been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from North Dakota State University.

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