Joseph J . Nazzaro General Joseph James Nazzaro ( March 21 , 1913 – February 5 , 1990 ) was commander in chief of Pacific Air Forces with headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii , and Commander in Chief , Strategic Air Command . Biography . Nazzaro was born in New York , New York in 1913 . He attended high school in New York , Millard Preparatory School in Washington , D . C . , and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1936 with a commission as second lieutenant in the Infantry . After graduation from advanced flying school at Kelly Field , Texas in October 1937 , he was transferred to the U . S . Army Air Corps . He then served in the Philippine Islands and from 1940 to 1942 , Nazzaro held assignments with the 7th Bombardment Group , Salt Lake City , Utah ; 39th Bombardment Group , Geiger Field , Washington , and commanded the 302nd Bombardment Group , Tucson , Arizona . Early in 1943 , Nazzaro was named commander of the 381st Bombardment Group , Pyote , Texas , and led the unit to England in May where it joined the Eighth Air Force . In January 1944 , he became deputy director of operations , U . S . Strategic Air Forces in Europe . In August 1944 , Nazzaro returned to the United States and was assigned as deputy commander , 316th Bombardment Wing , Colorado Springs , Colorado . The wing was moved to Okinawa in December 1945 , at which time he assumed command . In May 1946 , he became chief of the Operations Division , Headquarters Strategic Air Command , Bolling Field , Washington , D . C . Following graduation from the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Field , Alabama , Nazzaro became an instructor at the school , a position he held until December 1948 . He then returned to Washington , D . C . , for duty in the War Plans Division , Directorate of Plans , Headquarters U . S . Air Force . In August 1952 , Nazzaro moved to Lake Charles Air Force Base , Louisiana to take command of the 68th Bombardment Wing . A year later he was named commander of the 38th Air Division , Hunter Air Force Base , Georgia . In June 1955 , Nazzaro was appointed commander of Strategic Air Command ' s 15th Air Division in Morocco . He returned to the United States in July 1957 and was assigned to U . S . Air Force Headquarters as director of personnel planning . In July 1959 , Nazzaro was named deputy commander , Fifteenth Air Force , March Air Force Base , California , and in October 1962 , he became commander of the Eighth Air Force , Westover Air Force Base , Massachusetts . In December 1964 , Nazzaro became vice commander in chief of Strategic Air Command , and in February 1967 , he was appointed commander in chief . He assumed duties as commander in chief of Pacific Air Forces with headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii , in August 1968 . Nazzaro retired from the Air Force on August 1 , 1971 and died of cancer February 5 , 1990 at age 76 . Awards and decorations . He was a command pilot , combat observer and aircraft observer . His military decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster , Silver Star , Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters , Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster .