# David L. Nichols

David L. Nichols (January 18, 1934 – April 5, 1997) was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force (USAF). He flew 100 combat missions over North Vietnam, collected 8,800+ flying hours, and held command three times.
He was the first director of the Air Force's ground-launched cruise missile planning group and oversaw the construction of six bases in five NATO countries.

## Personal life and death

Nichols married his wife, Janice Lesan, in 1958. They remained married until his death. She died in 2003 and they are buried together at Arlington National Cemetery.
He died on April 5, 1997.

## Career and awards

Nichols joined the military in 1955.
As a fighter pilot, he flew 100 missions over North Vietnam in the F-105D as part of Operation Rolling Thunder. He was a Wild Weasel, which was a program that outfitted his aircraft with anti-radiation missiles and tasked with the suppression of enemy air defenses. He acrued over 8,800 flying hours.
Nichols helped the deployment of the ground-launched weapon system from 1980 to 1985. He was the first director of the Air Force's ground-launched missile planning ground. Later on, he established and then directed the ground-launched cruise missile planning group in Europe. He helped manage the missiles beddown activities and oversaw the building of six bases in five North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries.
Awards :
| | Silver Star |
| | Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters |
| | Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters |
| | Distinguished Service Medal |
| | Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster |
| | Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters |
| | Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster |
| no ribbon | Order of the Sword |

## Assignments

| Time | Title | Assignment | Station | Location |
| August 1955 - April 1959 | navigator in C-118 | 30th Air Transport Squadron, 1611th Air Transport Wing | McGuire AFB | Burlington County, New Jersey |
| April 1959 - April 1967 | student | Vance AFB | Vance AFB | Enid, Oklahoma |
| April 1959 - April 1967 | instructor pilot | Vance AFB | Vance AFB | Enid, Oklahoma |
| April 1959 - April 1967 | stan board evaluator | Vance AFB | Vance AFB | Enid, Oklahoma |
| January 1967 - January 1968 | fighter pilot, F-105D | 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing | Takhli Royal Thai AFB | Thailand |
| January 1968 - July 1970 | instructor pilot | 23rd Tactical Figher Wing | McConnell AFB | Wichita, Kansas |
| January 1968 - July 1970 | wing chief of safety | 23rd Tactical Figher Wing | McConnell AFB | Wichita, Kansas |
| July 1970 - May 1972 | chief of safety | 18th Tactical Fighter Wing | Kadena AFB | Okinawa, Japan |
| July 1970 - May 1972 | Commander | 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron | Kadena AFB | Okinawa, Japan |
| May 1972 - May 1973 | student | Air War College | Maxwell AFB | Montgomery, Alabama |
| May 1973 - August 1975 | Air Force military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy | Headquarters USAF | Pentagon | Arlington, Virginia |
| August 1975 - April 1977 | chief of staff | Headquarters 9th Air Force | Shaw AFB | Sumter, South Carolina |
| April 1977 - July 1979 | Commander | 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing | Eglin AFB | Okaloosa County, Florida |
| July 1979 - March 1980 | Deputy Director for Operations and Training | Headquarters USAF | Pentagon | Arlington, VA |
| March 1980 - July 1981 | Deputy Director for Plans and Policy | Headquarters USAF | Pentagon | Arlington, VA |
| July 1981 - October 1982 | Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans | Headquarters US Air Forces in Europe | Ramstein Air Base | Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany |
| October 1982 - August 1983 | command's Chief of Staff | Headquarters US Air Forces in Europe | Ramstein Air Base | Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany |
| Ausgust 1983 - June 1984 | Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations | Headquarters USAF | Pentagon | Arlington, Virginia |
| June 1984 - September 1985 | Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations | Headquarters USAF | Pentagon | Arlington, Virginia |
| June 1984 - September 1985 | Air Force operations deputy to the Joint Chiefs of Staff | Headquarters USAF | Pentagon | Arlington, Virginia |
| September 1985 - July 1988 | Commander | Alaskan Air Command | Elmendorf AFB | Anchorage, Alaska |
| September 1985 - July 1988 | Commander | Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region | Elmendorf AFB | Anchorage, Alaska |
| September 1985 - July 1988 | Commander | Joint Task Force-Alaska | Elmendorf AFB | Anchorage, Alaska |