US Air Force General. He attended Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina for two years, after graduating from high school. He entered the US Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1950 with a bachelor of science degree and a commission in the US Air Force. After graduation, he was entered pilot training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, and in December 1951, he completed his advanced training at Craig Air Force Base, Alabama. He was assigned to South Korea during the Korean War where he flew 100 combat missions in F-51 Mustang and F-86 Sabre aircraft, and was credited with shooting down two MIG-15 aircraft. In December 1952, he was assigned to the 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Landstuhl Air Base, Germany, where he performed duties as a pilot and an air operations officer. In November 1955, he was assigned to the United States Air Force Academy and served for the next three years as air officer commander. He transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, in July 1959, and performed duties as adjutant for the 3550th Pilot Training Group and commander of the headquarters squadron section. He attended the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, graduating in 1962, and completed his master's degree at George Washington University in August 1963, after which he was assigned as a staff officer in the directorate of plans, Headquarters United States Air Force, in Washington DC. In August 1966, he was selected to attend the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair, Washington DC. After graduation, he was assigned to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe at Mons, Belgium where he was the executive officer to the chief of staff. He returned to the United States in July 1970 for combat crew training and was assigned as the commander of the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he flew 152 combat missions in F-4 Phantom II aircraft. In July 1972, he returned to the Pentagon as the deputy for operational forces and deputy director of operations. In February 1975, he was assigned to Headquarters tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, serving as the deputy chief of staff for operations until August 1977. He then returned to South Korea and became the deputy commander in chief, United States Forces Korea and deputy commander in chief, United Nations Command, Seoul, South Korea. He returned to the Pentagon in April 1979 as the deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and readiness. In August 1, 1980, he was promoted to general and was assigned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he was the commander in chief, United States Air Forces in Europe and Commander of Allied Air Forces Central Europe, serving in those positions until June 1982. He then returned to the Pentagon after he was selected to become the Air Force Chief of Staff, serving in that position until 1986. He retired on July 1, 1986 after 36 years of military service. He was rated as a command pilot with more than 4,200 flying hours. Among his awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with four bronze oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with two silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters, an additional Air Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, Presidential Unit Citation, and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and bronze oak leaf cluster. He died of Alzheimer's disease.