110413-F-JZ021-591.JPG
            MAJOR GENERAL JOHN R. FARRINGTONMajor General John R. "Jack" Farrington is vice commander, 15th Air Force, March Air Force Base, Calif. Fifteenth Air Force is responsible for Strategic Air Command operations in the western United States, Alaska and the Pacific. This includes responsibility for more than half of the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile force, a major portion of SAC' s bomber and tanker forces, and most of SAC's strategic reconnaissance resources. 

General Farrington was born in 1936, in Boston. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business from Boston University in 1959. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1964, Air Command and Staff College as a distinguished graduate in 1972, Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1976, and the Institute for Management, Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, in 1984. 

Upon graduation from Boston University, he received a regular Air Force commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Entering active duty in July 1959, the general completed primary pilot training at Malden Air Base, Mo., and basic pilot training at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas. He was awarded his pilot wings in September 1960 and was assigned to the 9th Bombardment Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, flying KC-97s. 

In 1963 General Farrington was assigned to the 305th Bombardment Wing, Grissom Air Force Base, Ind., flying KC-135A's and EC-135L's. In October 1968 he transferred to Headquarters 2nd Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., as the KC-135 training officer and subsequently became operations program manager for the FB-111. 

The general completed Air Command and Staff College in 1972 and was assigned to a location in Southeast Asia conducting special operations. He participated in 154 combat missions involving a variety of aircraft and sensitive ground operations. Returning to the United States in August 1973, the general was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. After a brief period on the Air Staff, he was selected as military aide to Secretary of the Air Force John L. McLucas. 

After graduating from Industrial College of the Armed Forces in June 1976, he was assigned to Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., as the first commander of Tactical Air Command's 966th Airborne Warning and Control Training Squadron. While there he participated in the development of training programs and operational procedures for the E-3A Sentry. In August 1978 General Farrington was assigned as assistant deputy commander for operations, 552nd Airborne Warning and Control Wing, also at Tinker. He became wing deputy commander for maintenance in January 1980 and in April 1981 was named wing deputy commander for operations. 

In June 1982 the general returned to Grissom Air Force Base as commander of the 305th Air Refueling Wing. In October 1984 he was assigned as commander of 14th Air Division, Beale Air Force Base, Calif., with worldwide responsibilities involving strategic reconnaissance. In May 1987 he became chief of the joint U.S. Military Training Mission, Saudi Arabia, and the senior defense representative in the kingdom. The mission, the largest U.S. overseas security assistance organization, provides advice and assistance to the Saudi Arabian armed forces and executes the kingdomwide U.S. security assistance program. He assumed his present position in September 1989. 

The general is a command pilot with more than 5,500 flying hours in B-52s, E-3s, KC/EC/RC-135s, FB-111s, SR-71s, U-2s, TR-1s and a variety of helicopters and support aircraft. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and Combat Readiness Medal. He also has been awarded the rating of pilot in the Yugoslavian air force. 

He was promoted to major general Feb. 1, 1988, with same date of rank. 

(Current as of November 1989)