Thomas McInerney Thomas G . McInerney ( born March 15 , 1937 ) is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant General and well - known war hawk . He is a command pilot with more than 4 , 100 flying hours , including 407 combat missions ( 243 in O - 1 s as a forward air controller and 164 in F - 4 C ' s , D ' s and E ' s ) during the Vietnam War . In addition to his Vietnam Service , the McInerney served overseas in NATO ; Pacific Air Forces and as commander of 11th Air Force in Alaska . Currently , he is a Fox News contributor , and is a member of the Iran Policy Committee . Education . McInerney was born March 15 , 1937 , in Havre de Grace , Maryland , and graduated from Garden City ( N . Y . ) High School in 1955 . He earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Military Academy in 1959 and a Master ' s Degree in international relations from George Washington University in 1972 . McInerney graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1970 and from the National War College in 1973 . Military career . After graduating from the academy in June 1959 , he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army . He then joined the Air Force , and completed initial pilot training at Bartow Air Base , Florida , and Laredo Air Force Base , Texas , in November 1960 . McInerney was assigned to Luke Air Force Base , Arizona , and later to Nellis Air Force Base , Nevada , for advanced gunnery training . His first operational assignment was in October 1961 with the 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron , flying F - 104 s at George Air Force Base , California . There he took part in the Berlin and Cuban crises in 1962 , flying escort missions in the West Berlin Air Corridor and escort reconnaissance missions over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis . In April 1963 he was one of the first forward air controllers assigned to South Vietnam with a Vietnamese army division . Upon his return to the United States in April 1964 he was assigned to the Tactical Air Warfare Center , Eglin Air Force Base , Florida , as an F - 4C aircraft commander . In February 1966 he attended the F - 4 Fighter Weapons School , Nellis Air Force Base , where he remained as an instructor with various F - 4 assignments in the Weapons School and the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center , Test and Evaluation Division . Also , he participated in two Southeast Asia deployments as introduction team chief , bringing the F - 4D and F - 4E into combat . McInerney volunteered for a fourth tour in Southeast Asia and served with the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron , Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base , Thailand , from February until August 1969 . After completing the Armed Forces Staff College in February 1970 , he was transferred to the Directorate of Operational Requirements , Air Force headquarters . During this assignment he participated in many high - level study groups on the Middle East , air - to - air missile requirements and the F - 15 advanced air superiority fighter . Upon graduation from National War College in July 1973 , McInerney was assigned to the 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing , Luke Air Force Base , as F - 104 and F - 5 director of operations . He was primarily responsible for German F - 104 training and the F - 5E Military Assistance Program . In August 1974 he became the air attache to the U . S . Embassy in London . There he worked for three different ambassadors , assisting them in changing U . S . policy toward the multi - role combat aircraft , and increased standardization with European aerospace and North Atlantic Treaty Organization air forces . From November 1976 until October 1977 he was vice commander of the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing , Royal Air Force Station Upper Heyford , England . McInerney then became military assistant to Ambassador Robert W . Komer , the adviser to the secretary of defense on North Atlantic Treaty Organization affairs . In this capacity , he assisted in developing the organization ' s long - term defense program , which was announced at the 1978 Washington Summit . In March 1979 , McInerney became commander of the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing , Clark Air Base , Philippines , and was deeply involved in implementing the base agreement that placed Clark Air Base under Philippine sovereignty . In February 1981 he was assigned as commander of the 313th Air Division , Kadena Air Base , Japan . McInerney then served as deputy chief of staff for operations and intelligence , Headquarters Pacific Air Forces , Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii , from June 1983 to July 1985 , when he became commander of 3rd Air Force , Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall , England . In October 1986 , McInerney was assigned as vice commander in chief , Headquarters U . S . Air Forces in Europe , Ramstein Air Base , West Germany . He became commander of Alaskan Air Command , Alaskan NORAD Region , and Joint Task Force Alaska in May 1988 . McInerney assumed command of Alaskan Command upon its activation in July 1989 , and became commander of 11th Air Force when Alaskan Air Command was redesignated 11th Air Force in August 1990 . McInerney ' s last active duty assignment was as Assistant vice chief of staff , Headquarters U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . He was responsible for the organization and administration of the Air Staff . Additionally , he served as deputy chairman of the Air Force Council and is the Air Force accreditation official for the Air Attache Corps . He retired from the Air Force on 1 July 1994 . Military awards and decorations . His major military awards and decorations include : McInerney has also been awarded the Third Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government for outstanding service in enhancing relations between the US government and Japan . McInerney was inducted into the Order of the Sword in July 1980 . This award recognizes both military and civilian individuals for conspicuous and significant contributions to the welfare and prestige of the noncommissioned officer corps and the military establishment . Hel was the sixth Pacific Air Forces officer and the 63rd officer overall inducted into the order since the Air Force became a separate branch of the armed services in 1947 . Post military career . From March 1996 to December 1999 , McInerney was Chief Executive Officer and President of Business Executives for National Security ( BENS ) , an association through which senior business executives can help enhance the nations security . As the CEO of BENS , McInerney assisted in passage of the Chemical Weapons Convention ( CWC ) which prohibits the development , production , and stockpiling of chemical weapons . From 1994 , McInerney was Director of the Defense Performance Review ( DPR ) , reporting to the Secretary of Defense and Vice President Al Gore who conceived this initiative for the Federal Government . In that capacity , McInerney led the Pentagon ’ s “ reinventing government ” effort , focused on making government more efficient by using the latest and best business practices .