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      Maj. Gen Thomas G. DarlingEngage On
        
        Maj. Gen Thomas G. DarlingMAJOR GENERAL THOMAS G. DARLINGMajor General Thomas G. Darling is deputy commander in chief and chief of staff U.S. Atlantic Command, U.S. Naval Station, Norfolk, Va.

General Darling was born in 1932, in Abilene, Texas, where he graduated from high school in 1950. He received a bachelor of science degree in 1954 from Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University at College Station, and a master's degree in public administration from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1964. He completed Air Command and Staff College in 1964, the Naval War College in 1971 and the University of Pittsburgh's Management Program for Executives in 1977.

He graduated as a distinguished military graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program, was commissioned a second lieutenant and entered the U.S. Air Force in July 1954. He completed pilot training at Marana Air Base, Ariz., and Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. He was assigned to the 7th Bombardment Wing, Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, from August 1955 to July 1963. While there he was a B-36 pilot with the 492nd Bombardment Squadron. After completing B-52 combat crew training in June 1958, General Darling served as a B-52 pilot, aircraft commander and standardization evaluator with the 9th Bombardment Squadron, also at Carswell.

In August 1963 he entered the Air Command and Staff College and upon graduation was assigned to the 824th Bombardment Squadron, Turner Air Force Base, Ga. While at Turner, General Darling served on temporary duty with the squadron at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, flying 46 combat missions in B-52s over Southeast Asia from March to October 1966.

General Darling was assigned to Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., in January 1967 as chief of the Tanker Manning Section in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. He was named bomber manning chief in July 1967 and in October 1968 become chief of the Aircrew-Operations Assignments Branch. The general entered the Naval War College in July 1970. After graduation in July 1971, he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as chief of the Force Structure Branch in the Directorate of Personnel Plans. In May 1972 he become executive to the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs.

In July 1974 General Darling was assigned to the 97th Bombardment Wing at Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., as vice commander and in July 1975 assumed command of the wing. He returned to SAC headquarters in February 1977 as director of training in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, and in July 1978 became deputy chief of staff for personnel.

In August 1981 General Darling was assigned to the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va., as commandant. In August 1984 he was named vice commander, 15th Air Force, at March Air Force Base, Calif. He assumed duties as chief of staff for Atlantic Command in June 1986 and was assigned concurrent responsibilities as deputy commander in chief in September 1986.

A command pilot, General Darling has more than 7,000 flying hours, including more than 500 combat hours in B-52s. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and Air Force Commendation Medal. In addition, General Darling was awarded the MacArthur Medallion for his leadership initiatives while serving as commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College.

He was promoted to major general Jan. 1, 1982, with date of rank Aug. 1, 1978.

(Current as of November 1986)
  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