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    HomeAbout UsBiographiesDisplay      060719-F-JZ506-650.JPGEngage On
        
        060719-F-JZ506-650.JPGGENERAL JAMES E. DALTONGeneral James E. Dalton is chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers, Europe, Mons, Belgium. 
General Dalton was born in New York City in 1930. He is a graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School. In 1954 he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. He received master of science degrees in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, and instrumentation engineering from the University of Michigan in 1960. He is a distinguished graduate of Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 
After completing pilot training in 1955, General Dalton joined the 76th Air Transport Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., serving as an aircraft commander until he entered the University of Michigan in 1958. After graduation in 1960, he served as a project officer in the Guidance and Control Directorate of the Ballistic Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command at Los Angeles Air Force Station, Calif. He was responsible for the development of the operational targeting programs for the inertially guided Atlas, Titan and Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles. 
The general attended Air Command and Staff College during the 1964-1965 academic year and was then assigned to the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing, Naha Air Base, Okinawa, where he served as an aircraft commander, instructor pilot, flight commander and wing executive officer. During this assignment he served in Southeast Asia as a C-130 commander, operations officer and deputy commander of C-130 operating locations. 
From May 1968 to May 1969, he was a project officer in the Missile Division, Office of the Deputy for Strategic Forces, Deputy Chief of Staff, Research and Development, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. While there he was the program element monitor for the Advanced Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Technology Program. He then attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces graduating in June 1970. 
He was assigned as chief, Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis Branch in the Office of the Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for Strategic Arms Negotiations from June 1970 to August 1972. In this capacity he served with the United States Strategic Arms Limitations Talks Delegation as an adviser to the principal military delegate. 
General Dalton was vice commander of the 438th Military Airlift Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., until May 1973. He then took command of the 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where he was responsible for the rescue operations of seven squadrons and 14 detachments located in Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Alaska, Panama and the United States. As many as 100 aircraft of five different types were assigned to the wing. During General Dalton's tenure the wing received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and the Military Airlift Command's Distinguished Wing Flying Safety Award for 1973 and 1974. 
In February 1975 he become commander of the Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver where he was responsible for personnel support for the Air Force Reserve and members of the Air National Guard not on extended active duty, and personnel support for mobilization of the Air Reserve Forces. 
From November 1976 to May 1977, he was deputy director of concepts in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations at Air Force headquarters. In June 1977 General Dalton was assigned to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and served as deputy director for force development and strategic plans, Plans and Policy Directorate. His responsibilities involved a broad range of national security issues. In July 1978 he became vice director of the Joint Staff and in July 1980 General Dalton was named commandant of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He served as director of the Joint Staff from July 1981 until assuming his present duties in August 1983. 
The general is a command pilot with more than 5,400 flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal and Vietnam Service Medal with six stars. 
He was promoted to general Aug. 1, 1983. 
(Current as of April 1984)
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