Returning to the United States, Post became an F-16 Falcon evaluation pilot with the 62nd and 63rd Fighter Squadrons at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.[3] This was the beginning of a long association with the F-16, which would eventually see him complete over 4,000 hours flight time in the aircraft when he flew his 2,565th sortie in March 2011.[4] In 1990, he was a distinguished graduate of the Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. He then earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Troy University in 1991, and completed the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course at the Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in December 1992. From January 1993 until January 1994, he was an F-16 Instructor and Evaluation Pilot and the Weapons Officer and Flight Commander of the 35th Fighter Squadron, which was based at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea. Between February 1994 and June 1996, he was an F-16 Instructor and Evaluation Pilot, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, and wing weapons officer, of the 35th Fighter Wing, at Misawa Air Base in Japan. He won the Air Force's Anthony C. Shine Award for Fighter Pilot of the Year in 1996.[3]
Post gives a thumbs up after landing on 3 March 2011, completing his 2565th sortie and 4,000 flying hours in an F-16Post demonstrates a one armed push-up alongside Major Geoffrey, 1st Reconnaissance SquadronU-2 pilot, 3 December 2013, at Beale Air Force Base California after Post and Geoffrey completed a sortie aboard a TU-2S
Post was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on 7 May 2010. From August 2012 until June 2013, he was Deputy Director of Operations, Plans and Policy at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam in Hawaii. He attended the Capstone Flag Officer Course at the National Defense University at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C., and the Combined Forces Air Component Commander Course, at Maxwell Air Force Base in 2012, the Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander Course at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island, in 2013 and the Joint Flag Officer War fighter's Course at Maxwell Air Force Base in 2014. From June 2013 until September 2014, he was Director of Operations at Headquarters, Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia with the rank of brigadier general from August 2013.[3]
At the Air Force's annual Weapons and Tactics Conference on 10 January 2015, Post responded to a question about the future of the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.[7] This aircraft had been developed in the 1970s specifically for close air support, and had seen extensive service in conflicts since then. In 2012, the Air Force announced plans to disband five squadrons of A-10s as a cost-saving measure.[6] The plan ran into strong opposition in the United States Congress.[8][9] The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 prohibited the Air Force from spending any money retiring or planning to retire the A-10.[10] Post recalled that in his answer he said:
I believed it was essential for the members in the audience to listen and understand the importance of the Air Force's decision with respect to the future of the A-10. I said that their expertise and commitment was critical to our finding the most effective way to transition to the F-35-how we do Close Air Support, how we do Combat Search and Rescue, and how we might find offsets to accommodate the divestiture of the A-10. I then mentioned that some of the argument over the A-10 seemed to be misinformed, subjective, and in many cases emotional. I said that it was okay to be proud of a weapons system that's done tremendous work in support of troops and friendly forces around the world. I said I could relate with those passionate about their assigned weapon system, but unfortunately fiscal reality wouldn't allow us to do both-continue flying the A-10 while bringing the F-35 to operational capability. I said that the internal (AF) discussion and debate was over, the CSAF and SECAF have been briefed; they've made their decision and passed their recommendation to Congress accordingly. That said, I mentioned that it didn't appear the divestiture of the A-10 was going to happen as early, nor as quickly as the AF recommends. I said It was time to focus and work hard towards doing the best we can with what we know, and not towards undermining senior leaders' decisions, nor towards fulfilling personal preferences and agendas. The majority of the audience appeared to nod in agreement. And finally, I said that for those in uniform to do anything contrary to what the Chief and Secretary have directed would be disloyal, or some might say institutional treason (or words to that effect).[6]
The use of the word "treason" silenced the room. Some listeners took it literally.[6] Post's remarks were reported on the internet. On 13 January, he notified the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, GeneralMark Welsh of what he had said in an email.[7] On 16 January 2015, the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense received an anonymous complaint alleging that Post had made remarks to the effect that communicating with Congress about the capabilities of the A-10 was treason. This was based on an item on the website dodbuzz.com. The matter was referred to the Air Force for investigation on 22 January. Meanwhile, on 21 January,[6] the United States Secretary of the Air Force, Deborah Lee James,[7] received a letter of complaint from Senator John McCain. Restricting communications with members of Congress is an offence under Title 10, United States Code, Section 1034, Protected communications; prohibition of retaliatory personnel actions, and Department of Defense Directive 7050.06, Military Whistleblower Protection. In his report, the Inspector General of the Air Force, Lieutenant GeneralGregory A. Biscone, found that while Post may not have intended to break the law, and did not actually prevent anyone from speaking to Congress, his words had a chilling effect.[6]
On 9 April 2015, the commander of the Air Combat Command, General Herbert J. Carlisle, relieved Post, and issued him a letter of reprimand.[11] Post's final assignment was as Director of Current Operations in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, at The Pentagon. He retired in October 2016.[3]
Dates of rank
Post salutes during the playing of the National Anthem during the Air Combat Command change of command ceremony at Langley Air Force Base on 4 November 2014
