Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders

    HomeAbout UsBiographiesDisplay      Engage On
        
        BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT HUTCHINSON HARPERRobert Hutchinson Harper was born in Milledgeville, Georgia, February 3, 1912. He attended Georgia Military College, Tennessee State Teachers College and George Washington University.
From November, 1931, until 1942, General Harper served at the Capital in Washington, D.C., as a clerk in the House of Representatives and as administrative secretary to a committee.
On February 7, 1933, General Harper was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Infantry Reserve, and served various short periods of active duty during the following nine years. He was called to extended active duty in January, 1942, and assigned to Army Air Forces headquarters, Washington, D.C., as Assistant Secretary of the Air Staff. The following March he was transferred to the Air Force Reserve, and January, 1944, was named executive assistant to the Chief of the Air Staff.
General Harper, in November, 1944, was assigned with the Fifteenth Air Force in the Mediterranean theater. Two months later he became deputy chief of staff of the Fifteenth Air Force. In July, 1945, he was assigned as executive for operations in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Personnel at Army Air Forces headquarters, Washington, D.C.
He reverted to inactive status September 15, 1945, with terminal leave to January 1, 1946. He then became chief clerk of the Armed Services Committee in the House of Representatives.
General Harper was recalled to active duty January 1, 1951, and appointed special assistant to the commanding general of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters at Wiesbaden, Germany. In February, 1951, he became Secretary of the Air Staff, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. In April, 1952, he was assigned to Air Force Headquarters.
During World War II, General Harper was awarded the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal.
PROMOTIONS
He was promoted to first lieutenant March 25, 1936; to captain March 31, 1942; to major September 4, 1942; to lieutenant colonel August 7, 1943; to colonel December 21, 1945; to brigadier general September 16, 1949.
Up to date as of 2 April 1952.
  Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil