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            GENERAL RONALD  W. YATESGeneral Ronald W. Yates is Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.  AFMC researches, develops, tests, acquires and provides logistics support necessary to keep Air Force units and weapon systems in a state of readiness, and to sustain their operations in peace and war.  The command manages these systems from their inception on the drawing board through their retirement from the inventory.  This is done through 18 specialized centers. AFMC has approximately 116,000 military and civilian employees around the world. The general entered the Air Force in 1960 upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy.  He has served as a test pilot (flying a variety of modified fighter aircraft), program manager for a variety of weapon systems, and as commander of a test wing.  Before assuming his current position, General Yates was Commander of Air Force Systems Command.  He is a command test pilot with more than 4,400 flying hours, and flew 100 combat missions in Southeast Asia.  In March 1994 he was inducted into the AFMC Order of the Sword.EDUCATION1960  Bachelor of science degree in military science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 1964  Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1969  Aerospace Research Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif. 1970  Master of science degree in systems management, University of Southern California 1970  Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1973  Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va. 1977  Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.ASSIGNMENTS1.  June 1960 - November 1962, student, aviation training, Spence AFB, Ga., Webb and Perrin AFBs, Texas 2.  December 1962 - June 1964, pilot, 68th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Itazuke Air Base, Japan 3.  June 1964 - June 1966, pilot, 509th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Clark AB, Philippines 4.  July 1966 - December 1970, student, test pilot, Aerospace Research Pilot School; then Chief, Aerospace Research Pilot Branch, Aerospace Research Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif. 5.  January 1971 - January 1973, Director, Senior Officer Management, Headquarters Air Force Systems Command, Andrews AFB, Md. 6.  January 1973 - July 1973, student, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va. 7.  July 1973 - August 1976, Director, Development Test, A-10 System Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 8.  August 1976 - June 1977, student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 9.  July 1977 - March 1979, program element monitor, F-16 program, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. 10.  April 1979 - June 1980, Deputy Program Director, F-15 program, Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 11.  July 1980 - July 1981, Program Director, F-15 program, Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 12.  July 1981 - April 1983, Commander, 4950th Test Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 13.  April 1983 - August 1983, Director, tactical systems, Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 14.  August 1983 - July 1986, System Program Director, F-16 System Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 15.  July 1986 - January 1989, Director, Tactical Programs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C. 16.  January 1989 - April 1990, Principal Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C. 17.  April 1990 - June 1992, Commander, Air Force Systems Command, Andrews AFB, Md. 18.  July 1992 - present, Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, OhioFLIGHT INFORMATIONRating:  Command pilot, test pilotFlight hours:  More than 4,400Aircraft flown:  More than 50 aircraft typesMAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONSDistinguished Service MedalLegion of Merit with oak leaf clusterDistinguished Flying CrossMeritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clustersAir Medal with three oak leaf clustersAir Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clustersVietnam Service Medal with three bronze starsRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with PalmRepublic of Vietnam Campaign MedalEFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONSecond Lieutenant  June 8, 1960First Lieutenant  Dec. 8, 1961Captain  Dec. 8, 1964Major  June 20, 1968Lieutenant Colonel  May 1, 1973Colonel  Aug. 30, 1977Brigadier General  Sept. 1, 1983Major General  Oct. 1, 1985Lieutenant General  March 1, 1989General  April 1, 1990 (Current as of June 1994)