General Kevin B. Schneider, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday for a three-day visit aimed at strengthening defense cooperation between Washington and Colombo, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Colombo.
The visit, which runs from June 21 to June 24, comes as the United States and Sri Lanka continue to expand military engagement through joint exercises, personnel exchanges, and senior-level discussions. Schneider, who oversees all U.S. Air Force personnel and assets across the Indo-Pacific theater, is scheduled to meet senior Sri Lankan government and military officials, including leaders from the Ministry of Defense and the Sri Lanka Air Force.
According to the embassy, discussions during the visit will focus on enhancing cooperation in air and maritime domain awareness, cybersecurity, disaster response, and broader regional security issues. The meetings are expected to build on existing defense ties between the two countries and explore opportunities for deeper collaboration in areas identified as mutual priorities.
The U.S. Embassy described Schneider’s visit as the latest milestone in what it called an expanding bilateral relationship. The statement said the United States views Sri Lanka as an important partner in efforts to maintain peace, security, and prosperity across the region.
As commander of PACAF, Schneider leads Air Force activities spanning a vast geographic area that includes Japan, South Korea, Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam. The command supports more than 46,000 Airmen and serves as the air component of U.S. military operations across much of the Indo-Pacific region.
Schneider was commissioned through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1988 and later graduated from both the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program and the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. Throughout his military career, he has held command positions at squadron, group, and wing levels, including leadership of a combat wing within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
His assignments have also included postings on the Joint Staff, Air Staff, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, U.S. Pacific Command, and Pacific Air Forces. Prior to assuming his current role, Schneider served as Director of Staff at Headquarters Air Force at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
The four-star general is a command pilot with approximately 4,000 flight hours across multiple aircraft, including the F-16, F-15E, T-38C, UH-1N, and F-22A. His service record includes participation in Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Inherent Resolve, with more than 500 combat flight hours.
Schneider’s visit takes place amid continued engagement between the United States and Sri Lanka on defense and security matters, with both countries maintaining regular military exchanges and dialogue on regional challenges. The meetings scheduled over the coming days are expected to further discussions on areas of shared security interest identified by both governments.
