US Air Force General. He was drafted into the US Army in July 1943 after graduating from high school in his home town, serving in the infantry and attaining the rank of sergeant. He was discharged after the end of World War II and he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated in 1949 with a bachelor of science degree and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He attended pilot training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, where he graduated in 1950 with his pilot wings. HE was assigned to the 36th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Furstenfeldbruck Air Base, Germany, where he was a jet fighter pilot. In December 1952, he was transferred to the 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Kusan Air Base, South Korea, and flew combat missions in F-84 Thunderjet aircraft. He returned to Williams Air Force Base in July 1953, and served as a gunnery instructor with the 3526th Pilot Training Squadron. From there he was transferred to Stewart Air Force Base, New York, in August 1954 where he was assigned to the 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and performed duties as a fighter pilot and air operations officer. During this period he attended Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, graduating in 1955. In July 1958, he began a four-year tour at Headquarters US Air Force in Washington DC, and performed duties in the directorate of requirements while obtaining his master's degree in business administration from George Washington University in June 1963. He was then assigned to the directorate of plans at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. After graduating from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in June 1966, he completed F-4C Phantom replacement training with the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. In December 1966, he was assigned to Headquarters 7th Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of View Nam, serving until December 1967. During that time, he flew over 100 aerial combat missions. In 1968, he was the F-111 test director at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and then he took command of the famed "Flying Tigers," the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, flying F-105 Thunderchiefs. In June 1970, he became deputy chief of staff for plans at Headquarters North American Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colorado, remaining there until May 1973, when he was transferred to Maxwell Air Force Base, where he served as commandant of the Air War College. In July 1975, he was assigned to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he was the commander of Headquarters 9th Air Force, In June 1978, he became the commander of Headquarters 12th Air Force at Bergstrom Air Force Base. Texas. In January 1980, he was assigned as commander in chief of the North American Air Defense Command, serving in that position until August 1981. He was promoted to general on 1 August 1981 and then became commander in chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command until 1982, when he became commander in chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command/Air Force Space Command, serving in that position until he retired in 1984. He was a command pilot with over 5,000 flying hours and was the first recipient of the Master Space Badge. Among his award and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, The Air Force Commendation Medal, the Combat Readiness Medal, and the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit Tung II Medal. In 1982, he received an honorary doctor of military science degree from Norwich University, Vermont, and an honorary doctor of laws from the University of Akron, Ohio, in 1983. The Hartinger Medal, an annual award presented by the National Defense Industrial Association to an individual who made a significant contribution to the military space mission of the United States, is named in his honor.