Throughout his military career, Silveria has held a number of positions in the USAF as a pilot and in command roles. He was promoted to
first lieutenant in May 1987, and then
captain in 1989. He was an instructor pilot at
Williams Air Force Base,
Arizona, in the late 1980s, where he flew
Cessna T-37 aircraft for the
96th Flying Training Squadron. At the time, T-37s were a primary training aircraft for the USAF. Between 1991 and 1995, he served at
Seymour Johnson AFB,
North Carolina, where he flew
F-15E Strike Eagles for the
334th Fighter Squadron, completing multiple deployments during
Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. Along with a promotion to
major in 1997, Silveria assumed the position of
aide-de-camp to the
Supreme Allied Commander Europe and commander,
United States European Command,
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, in
Mons,
Belgium. He held this position until July 1999. Silveria was promoted to
lieutenant colonel in May 2000 while a student at the
Air Command and Staff College. After graduating from the Air Command and Staff College in June 2000, Silveria was assigned to
RAF Lakenheath, England, from until July 2004. While there, he served as director of operations of the 48th Operations Support Squadron, as commander of the
492nd Fighter Squadron, and as deputy commander of the 48th Mission Support Group. Shortly after graduating from the
National War College in 2005, Silveria was promoted to
colonel. He then served as the commander of the
32d Air and Space Operations Center at
Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from June 2005 to January 2006, before returning to RAF Lakenheath in England to serve as vice commander of the
48th Fighter Wing from January 2006 to July 2007. From July 2007 to August 2008, Silveria served as special assistant to the commander,
United States European Command, in
Mons, Belgium. In August 2008, he took command of the 48th Fighter Wing,
RAF Lakenheath, England. In July 2010, Silveria was assigned as inspector general,
Air Combat Command, at
Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. Shortly after, in September 2010, he was promoted to
brigadier general. From March 2012 to March 2013, Silveria served as director, Security Assistance in the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq. From April 2013 to February 2014, he served as vice commander,
14th Air Force. From February 2014 to April 2016, Silveria served as the commanding general of the
United States Air Force Warfare Center,
Nellis AFB, Nevada. He had been promoted to
major general in June 2014. From April 2016 to May 2017, Silveria served as deputy commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command and as deputy commander, Combined Air Force Component, U.S. Central Command. In August 2017, Silveria was promoted to
lieutenant general and began serving in his final assignment as
Superintendent of the
USAF Academy. Silveria retired from the United States Air Force on November 1, 2020, and Lieutenant General
Richard M. Clark succeeded him as Superintendent. == Post-military career ==