Department of the United States Air Force LogoBiography
                  United States Air Force070313-F-JZ504-193.JPGEffective Dates of Promotion
                      
                      Second Lieutenant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                June 04, 1946First Lieutenant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 June 04, 1949Captain                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          June 04, 1953Major                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            June 04, 1960Lieutenant Colonel                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               June 04, 1967Colonel                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          August 01, 1969Brigadier General                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                April 24, 1974Major General                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    February 06, 1976Lieutenant General                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               June 01, 1978
            Lieutenant General RANALD T. ADAMS JR.Lt. Gen. Ranald T. Adams Jr. is chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board in Washington, D.C. The mission of the Inter-American Defense Board, in accordance with Resolution XXXIV of the Bogota Conference, is "to act as the organ of preparation and recommendation for the collective self-defense of the American continent against aggression, and to carry out, in addition to the advisory functions within its competence, any similiar functions ascribed to it by the Advisory Defense Committee of the Organization of American States."
General Adams was born in 1925, at Fort Sill, Okla., the son of on officer in the Field Artillery, U.S. Army. During his youth he lived on various Army posts, graduating from high school in Columbia, S.C., in 1941. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute for two years prior to entering the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1943. He graduated in 1946 with a bachelor of science degree and commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a rated pilot. He earned a master of science degree from The George Washington University in 1966.
After fighter transition training and a brief tour of duty as a troop carrier pilot, he was assigned in October 1947 as a P-51 pilot in the 31st Fighter Wing at Turner Field, Ga. In August 1948 he was transferred to Japan, where he served as a fighter pilot and in March 1949 was assigned to the 68th Fighter Squadron as an all-weather fighter pilot. He served with the squadron during the Korean War and flew 50 combat missions in the F-82 Twin Mustang.
Upon his return to the United States in September 1951, he was assigned to the Air Defense Command and served as assistant operations officer in the 2nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. In February 1953 he became fighter officer of the 26th Air Division at Roslyn, N.Y.
In July 1955 he was assigned to the Department of Military Topography, U.S. Military Academy, as an assistant professor. Three years later he was selected to attend the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. In August 1959 he was transferred to Japan as an operations and training inspector, 41st Air Division, at Johnson Air Base, and later was maintenance officer of the 40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Yokota Air Base. He returned to the United States and was assigned in September 1962 as chief of maintenance for the 76th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Westover Air Force Base, Mass., and in April 1963 assumed the same duties for the 52nd Fighter Wing, Suffolk County Air Force Base, N.Y.
General Adams graduated from the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in June 1966. He then was assigned to the Directorate of Inspection, Inspector General Group, at Norton Air Force Base, Calif., and served as deputy chief and later chief of the Fighter Branch, Operations Division. In October 1968 he was assigned to the Air Force Advisory Group, Republic of Vietnam, as chief of Air Force Advisory Team 6 at Nha Trang and Pleiku.
He assumed command of the 408th Fighter Group at Kingsley Field, Ore., in October 1969. In June 1971 he was transferred to Ent Air Force Base, Colo., as assistant deputy chief of staff for operations, Aerospace Defense Command, and in March 1972 became assistant deputy chief of staff for operations, North American Air Defense Command/Continental Air Defense Command (NORAD/CONAD). General Adams became commander, 26th NORAD/CONAD Region, with additional duty as commander, 26th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., in May 1973.
General Adams served as commander of the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center, with headquarters at Norton Air Force Base, Calif., and deputy inspector general for inspection and safety, Office of the Inspector General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, from September 1974 until July 1977, when he became director of the Inter-American Defense College at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C., a position he held until assuming his current position on June 1, 1978.
His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal and Republic of Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order, 2nd class.
General Adams was promoted to the grade of lieutenant general on June 1, 1978, with same date of rank.EDUCATION
1. Graduated - Dreher High School, Columbia, S.C., 1941
2. Attended - Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Va.
3. Graduated - U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., 1946; The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 1966; Air War College; Air Command and Staff School; Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1946 - October 1946, fighter transition, Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. November 1946 - September 1947, glider pilot, 316th Troop Carrier Group, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
3. October 1947 - June 1948, fighter pilot, 31st Fighter Group, Turner Air Force Base, Ga.
4. July 1948 - November 1948, fighter pilot, 475th Fighter Group, Itazuke Air Base, Japan
5. December 1948 - June 1951, fighter pilot, group adjutant, squadron supply officer, squadron adjutant, 68th Fighter Squadron, Japan
6. July 1951 - March 1953, fighter pilot, 52nd Fighter Group, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.
7. April 1953 - July 1955, fighter officer, 26th Air Division, Roslyn, N.Y.
8. July 1955 - July 1958, assistant professor, Military Topography, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
9. August 1958 - July 1959, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
10. August 1959 - May 1961, operations inspector, 45th Air Division, Japan
11. June 1961 - July 1962, maintenance officer, 40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Japan
12. August 1962 - April 1963, chief of maintenance, 76th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Westover Air Force Base, Mass.
13. April 1963 - June 1965, chief of maintenance, 52nd Fighter Wing, Suffolk County Air Force Base, N.Y.
14. July 1965 - July 1966, student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
15. August 1966 - August 1968, chief, Fighter Branch, U.S. Air Force Inspector General's Office, Norton Air Force Base, Calif.
16. September 1968 - September 1969, chief, Air Force Advisory Team 6, Nha Trang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam
17. October 1969 - June 1971, commander, 408th Fighter Group, 4788th Air Base Group, Kingsley Field, Ore.
18. June 1971 - February 1972, assistant deputy chief of staff, operations, Headquarters Aerospace Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Colo.
19. February 1972 - May 1973, assistant deputy chief of staff, operations, North American Air Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Colo.
20. May 1973 - August 1974, commander, 26th North American Air Defense Command Region, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
21. September 1974 - July 1977, commander, Air Force Inspection and Safety Center, Norton Air Force Base, Calif.
22. July 1977 - June 1978, director, Inter-American Defense College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
23. June 1978 - present, chairman, Inter-American Defense Board, Washington, D.C.MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Award Commendation ribbon
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters
American Theater Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Occupation ribbon
Korean Service Medal with five service stars
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars
Air Force Longevity Service Award ribbon with seven oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksman ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order, 2nd Class
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
(Current as of January 1979)Department of the Air Force Logo