Richard L . Lawson Richard Laverne Lawson ( born December 19 , 1929 ) is a former General and former deputy commander in chief , Headquarters United States European Command , Stuttgart - Vaihingen , Germany . Biography . Early life . Lawson was born in Fairfield , Iowa , in 1929 , where he graduated from high school . He attended the University of Iowa at some point after high school . While at Parsons College , Lawson enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard and was later called to active duty as the 133rd Infantry Regiment ' s sergeant major at Fort Riley , Kansas . He was commissioned a second lieutenant in November 1951 and assigned as adjutant for the 133rd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron , Alexandria , Louisiana . He graduated from Parsons in 1951 with a bachelor of science degree . In May 1952 Lawson entered pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base , Mississippi , and completed training at Reese Air Force Base , Texas in July 1953 . He was then assigned to the 69th Bombardment Squadron at Loring Air Force Base , Maine , as a B - 36 Peacemaker co - pilot and aide - decamp to Brigadier General Bertram C . Harrison . He accompanied General Harrison to the 72nd Bombardment Wing , Ramey Air Force Base , Puerto Rico , in July 1955 . While there he continued to serve as aide to General Harrison and also Brigadier General H . R . Sullivan . However , his primary duty was as chief , Operations Control Division , 72nd Bombardment Wing . Lawson returned to the United States in June 1958 and was assigned to staff officer positions in the 5th Bombardment Wing , located at Travis Air Force Base , California . The general transferred to Headquarters Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska , in September 1961 and served as a member of the European Force Application Team , Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff . In September 1963 he entered the Air Command and Staff College . Upon graduation Lawson returned to Strategic Air Command Headquarters and was assigned as an operations planner in the Concepts Division , Operations Plans Directorate . He graduated from the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama , in 1964 and concurrently earned a master of public administration degree from The George Washington University , Washington D . C . He became chief of the Future Concepts Branch in February 1967 and entered the National War College in July 1968 . He completed the National War College at Fort Lesley J . McNair in 1969 . Later career . From June 1969 to February 1970 , Lawson served at McCoy Air Force Base , Florida , as deputy commander for operations , 306th Bombardment Wing . He subsequently took command of the 28th Bombardment Wing , then deployed to the Western Pacific from Ellsworth Air Force Base , South Dakota . He returned to Ellsworth with the wing in March 1970 . Lawson was assigned , in July 1971 , to Headquarters United States Air Force , Washington D . C . , in the Directorate of Operations , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff , Plans and Operations , with duty as chief , Strategic Division , and , in July 1972 , was named deputy director for strategic operational forces . In February 1973 he become deputy director of operations . Appointed military assistant to the president in August 1973 , Lawson served at the White House until March 1975 when he returned to Air Force headquarters as director of plans , and remained there until June 1977 . He was then assigned as commander , 8th Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base , Louisiana . In July 1978 he was named director for plans and policy , J - 5 , Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Washington D . C . He received an honorary doctorate of laws degree from Centenary College , Shreveport , Louisiana , in 1980 . He was assigned as the U . S . representative to the Military Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization , Brussels , Belgium in July 1980 and moved to Mons , Belgium , in July 1981 as chief of staff , Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe . He assumed his present duties as deputy commander in chief , Headquarters United States European Command , Stuttgart - Vaihingen , Germany in August 1983 . He retired on December 1 , 1986 . After his retirement , he began to work in the private sector , including positions as the president and CEO of the National Mining Association . Awards . Awards earned during his career : Defense Distinguished Service Medal