# Michael A. Nelson

Michael A. Nelson (October 8, 1937 – October 8, 2024) was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force (USAF). He flew 100 missions over North Vietnam, collected 3500+ hours in fighter aircraft, and held command five times, including over the 9th Air Force and Operation Southern Watch. He was the 20th Deputy Chief of Staff of Plans and Operations.
After his military career, he was the president of the Air Force Historical Foundation and The Retired Officer's Association (now called the Military Officers Association of America, a change he ushered in).

## Early life and education

Nelson was born in East Los Angeles, California, on October 8, 1937. He moved to San Antonio, Texas, and graduated from Alamo Heights Senior High School in 1955.
* Nelson earned his bachelor's degree in international relations in 1959 from Stanford University. He was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity.
* He earned a master's degree in comparative politics from the University of Arizona in 1969.
* He earned another master's degree from the National War College in 1976.
* He was also educated at the Air Command and Staff College and in multiple fighter jets.

## Career

Nelson was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in June 1959.
As a fighter pilot, he flew 100 combat missions in the F-105 over North Vietnam as a part of Operation Rolling Thunder. He was one of the Wild Weasels, which meant his aircraft was fitted with anti-radiation missiles and tasked with suppression of enemy air defenses. He also collected over 3500+ hours in the various aircraft he flew: the F-100, F-105, A-7, F-4, F-15, and F-16.
He held command five times at five different locations across his career and worked in the Pentagon multiple times, including as the Deputy Chief of Staff of Plans and Operations.
As part of being the commander of the 9th Air Force and CENTAF, he also oversaw Operation Southern Watch. Operation Southern Watch monitored southern Iraq.
He retired in August 1994. In retirement, he became the president of The Retired Officers Association (TROA) and served from 1995 to 2002. He worked with Congress to increase active duty pay raises, repeal dual-compensation restrictions and the REDUX retirement system, and enact TRICARE Senior Pharmacy and TRICARE For Life. As well as change the name of TROA to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Nelson helped redesign The Retired Officer Magazine, launch its website, begin hosting career fairs, and formed the Member Service Center.

## Personal life and death

Nelson married Barbie Wigdale in 1962 and had four children with her. They remained married until her death in 2022.
Nelson died in Virginia on October 8, 2024, at the age of 87.

## Awards

Source:
* Defense Superior Service Medal
* Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster
* Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
* Distinguished Service Medal
* Bronze Star Medal
* Meritorious Service Medal
* Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

## Assignments

Assignments Over Career :
| time | title | assignment | station | location |
| June 1959 – September 1960 | pilot training student | Laredo AFB | Laredo AFB | Laredo, Texas |
| September 1960 – September 1961 | F-100 student | Luke AFB | Luke AFB | Maricopa County, Arizona |
| September 1961 – August 1965 | F-100 pilot | 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing | RAF Lakenheath | Lakenheath, England |
| August 1965 – July 1967 | F-100 instructor pilot | 4515th Combat Crew Training Squadron | Luke AFB | Maricopa County, Arizona |
| July 1967 – July 1968 | member, Anti-Surface-to-Air Missile Combat Assistance Team | Tactical Air Warfare Center | Takhli Royal Thai AFB | Thailand |
| July 1967 – July 1968 | F-105 pilot | 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing | Takhli Royal Thai AFB | Thailand |
| July 1968 – October 1969 | Master's degree student | University of Arizona | University of Arizona | Tucson, Arizona |
| October 1969 – June 1971 | Operations Plan Adviser | 7th Air Force | 7th Air Force | Seoul, South Korea |
| June 1971 – May 1972 | student | Air Command and Staff College | Maxwell AFB | Montgomery, Alabama |
| June 1972 – June 1975 | A-7 instructor pilot | 355th Tactical Fighter Wing | Davis-Monthan AFB | Tucson, Arizona |
| June 1972 – June 1975 | Chief of Wing Scheduling | 355th Tactical Fighter Wing | Davis-Monthan AFB | Tucson, Arizona |
| June 1972 – June 1975 | Operations Officer | 358th Tactical Fighter Squadron | Davis-Monthan AFB | Tucson, Arizona |
| June 1972 – June 1975 | Commander | 358th Tactical Fighter Squadron | Davis-Monthan AFB | Tucson, Arizona |
| June 1975 – August 1976 | Student | National War College | Fort Lesley J. McNair | Washington, DC |
| August 1976 – April 1979 | Chief of Europe-NATO division, Directorate of Plans | US Air Force Headquarters | Pentagon | Arlington, Virginia |
| August 1976 – April 1979 | Air Force planner, Deputy Directorate for Joint and National Security Matters | US Air Force Headquarters | Pentagon | Arlington, Virginia |
| April 1979 – March 1981 | Commander | 21st Tactical Fighter Wing | Elmendorf AFB | Anchorage, Alaska |
| March 1981 – June 1983 | Director of Operations | Headquarters, US Pacific Command | Camp HM Smith | Oahu, Hawaii |
| June 1983 – July 1984 | Commander | 313th Air Division | Kadena Air Base | Okinawa, Japan |
| July 1984 – June 1985 | Commander | 13th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces | Clark Air Base | Luzon, Philippines |
| June 1985 – June 1986 | Deputy, Inspector General | US Air Force Headquarters | Pentagon | Arlington, Virginia |
| June 1986 – July 1987 | Chief of Staff | US Air Forces in Europe | Ramstein AB | Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany |
| July 1987 – June 1989 | Assistant, Chief of Staff for Operations | Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe | Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe | Mons, Belgium |
| June 1989 – January 1991 | Commander | Sheppard Technical Training Center | Sheppard AFB | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| January 1991 – June 1992 | Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations | US Air Force Headquarters | Pentagon | Arlington, Virginia |
| June 1992 – 1994 | Commander | 9th Air Force | Shaw AFB | Sumter, South Carolina |
| June 1992 – 1994 | Commander | Operation Southern Watch | Shaw AFB | Sumter, South Carolina |
| June 1992 – 1994 | Commander | US Central Air Forces (CENTAF) | Shaw AFB | Sumter, South Carolina |