Lawrence A . Skantze General Lawrence Albert Skantze ( born June 24 , 1928 ) is a retired United States Air Force four - star general and was commander , Air Force Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base , Maryland . Skantze was born in 1928 , in the Bronx , New York . After graduation from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1946 , he enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a radio operator . In 1948 he received a competitive appointment from the U . S . Atlantic Fleet to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis , Maryland , and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U . S . Air Force . He received a Master of Science degree in nuclear engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright - Patterson Air Force Base , Ohio , in 1959 . He completed Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama , and Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk , Virginia . He completed his basic pilot training at Marana , Arizona , and advanced training at Reese Air Force Base , Texas , where he received his pilot wings in August 1953 . He next entered B - 26 combat crew training and in February 1954 was assigned to the 90th Bombardment Squadron at Kunsan Air Base , South Korea . In January 1955 he returned to the United States to become aide to the commanding general of 14th Air Force at Robins Air Force Base , Georgia . Skantze entered the Air Force Institute of Technology in August 1957 and graduated in 1959 . His initial research and development assignment was as project engineer with the joint Air Force - Atomic Energy Commission Nuclear Powered Airplane program in Germantown , Maryland . In August 1961 he was a staff officer assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development at Headquarters U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . From June 1963 to August 1965 , he was assistant executive officer to the under secretary of the Air Force . Graduating from the Armed Forces Staff College the following year , General Skantze served for three and a half years as director of system engineering and advanced planning in the Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program at the Space and Missile Systems Organization in Los Angeles . From August 1969 to May 1971 , he was assigned to Headquarters Air Force Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base , initially as director of assignments and later as assistant for senior officer management . He then became deputy for the AGM - 69A Short - Range Attack Missile at the Aeronautical Systems Division , Wright - Patterson Air Force Base . After serving as deputy for the E - 3A Airborne Warning and Control System program at Hanscom Air Force Base , Massachusetts , from June 1973 to June 1977 , he returned to Air Force Systems Command headquarters as deputy chief of staff for systems . General Skantze took command of the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright - Patterson Air Force Base in March 1979 . In August 1982 General Skantze was named deputy chief of staff for research , development and acquisition at Air Force headquarters . He was responsible for all U . S . Air Force research , development and acquisition programs . The general was appointed vice chief of staff of the U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . , in October 1983 . He assumed command of Air Force Systems Command in August 1984 . He was a command pilot and earned the Senior Missile Badge . His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster , Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster , Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and Army Commendation Medal . He was promoted to general October 6 , 1983 , with same date of rank , and retired from the Air Force on July 31 , 1987 .