Department of the United States Air Force LogoBiography
                  United States Air ForceMAJOR GENERAL DAVID B. EASSONMajor General David B. Easson is commandant, Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps, Air Training Command, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
General Easson was born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1924, where he graduated from Central High School in 1942. He received a bachelor of science degree in industrial education from Bradley University, Ill., in 1949 and graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1966. He attended the advanced management program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business in 1970.
During World War II he entered active military duty as an aviation cadet in February 1943 and received his pilot wings in March 1944. He then was assigned to the 443rd Troop Carrier Group, Tenth Air Force, in the China-Burma-India theater of operations where he flew 96 combat missions in transport aircraft as a pilot and flight leader. He returned to the United States and was released from active duty in December 1945. He subsequently attended Bradley University.
During the Korean War General Easson returned to active duty in March 1951 and was assigned to the Strategic Air Command, 97th Bombardment Wing at Biggs and Carswell Air Force Bases, Texas, where he held various staff operational and training assignments.
In May 1955 he moved with Eighth Air Force headquarters from Carswell Air Force Base to Westover Air Force Base, Mass., where he served until July 1959 in the Directorate of Operations as chief, Ground Training Branch. In August 1959 he became the Eighth Air Force assistant deputy director of operations, a post he held until August 1961.
After completing basic and advanced training in the Minuteman weapon system, General Easson was assigned in March 1962 to the 394th Missile Squadron, 1st Strategic Aerospace Division, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., as chief, Minuteman Combat Crew Training Section. In July 1963 he was transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C., for duty as a Minuteman missile staff officer in the Strategic Division, Directorate of Operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations.
In July 1966 General Easson was assigned to the Plans Division (J-5) staff of the commander in chief, Pacific Command at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, as assistant head, General War Area, Plans and Policy Section, and later as head, Nuclear and Special Plans Section.
In July 1969 General Easson was assigned to the Air University as professor of aerospace studies at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as director, personnel resources and distribution, Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in June 1971.
General Easson moved to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force as deputy director of legislative liaison in May 1973. He assumed duties as deputy chief of staff, personnel, Air Force Logistics Command headquarters at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in July 1974. He assumed his present position in July 1977.
His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Senior Missileman badge. He is a command pilot with 5,400 hours flying time, of which 783 are combat hours.
He was promoted to the grade of major general on Feb. 8, 1979, with date of rank July 1, 1975.
(Current as of July 1979)Department of the Air Force Logo