Tad J. Oelstrom (born February 14, 1943)[1] is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant General who served as the Director of the National Security Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Oelstrom was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1965 and holds a Master of business administration degree from Auburn University, Alabama.

From 1970 to 1971, he was assigned to Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam.

He also served as an exchange officer with the British Royal Air Force.

Oelstrom is a command pilot with more than 4,400 flying hours in aircraft including the T-37, T-38, F-4, A-10, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Hawker Hunter.