Charles C . McDonald General Charles Clarence McDonald ( born October 1 , 1933 ) is a retired United States Air Force general who served as Commander , Air Force Logistics Command ( COMAFLC ) from 1989 to 1992 . McDonald was born in 1933 , in Barron , Wisconsin , where he graduated from Barron High School in 1951 . He earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin in 1956 and a master of arts degree in education from the Inter - American University of San German , Puerto Rico , in 1966 . He is a distinguished graduate of both Squadron Officer School in 1963 and Air War College in 1973 . In August 1956 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program . He entered active service in June 1957 and completed pilot training in July 1958 . From August 1958 until November 1961 he was a B - 47 co - pilot at McConnell Air Force Base , Kansas , and Mountain Home Air Force Base , Idaho . McDonald volunteered for the B - 52 program and after completing combat crew training in March 1962 , was assigned to the 319th Bombardment Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base , North Dakota . There he was a B - 52H co - pilot , aircraft commander and instructor pilot . In June 1965 he transferred to the 72nd Bombardment Wing , Ramey Air Force Base , Puerto Rico , as a wing standardization evaluator . He served as a command briefer at Headquarters Strategic Air Command , Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska , from June 1968 to May 1971 . McDonald then began OV - 10 training as a forward air controller and was assigned to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Da Nang Air Base , Republic of Vietnam , as squadron operations officer . Returning to the United States , he entered Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama , graduating in May 1973 . He next was assigned as a B - 52 operations planner at Headquarters 7th Air Force , Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base , Thailand , where he was responsible for coordinating all B - 52 air strikes in Southeast Asia . After the cease - fire he conducted a series of inspections for the Defense Attache Office in Saigon , Republic of Vietnam , and the Vietnamese air force . In May 1974 he was assigned to the Concepts Division , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations , Headquarters U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . There he developed a number of future planning tools , including Air Force long - range capability objectives , use of simulation in battle - staff training , refinement of net assessment as an aid to decision - making and mission area analysis in budget planning . Additionally , he helped direct an interagency airborne warning and control system task force , integrating it into U . S . forces and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization community . In March 1978 he returned to operational duties as assistant deputy commander for operations , 28th Bombardment Wing , Ellsworth Air Force Base , South Dakota . He subsequently was appointed deputy commander for operations , then vice commander . From August 1979 to February 1981 McDonald was commander of the 320th Bombardment Wing , Mather Air Force Base , California . Under his command the wing won the Fairchild Trophy , awarded to the top bomber wing in the Strategic Air Command for combined bombing and navigational excellence . He then transferred to March Air Force Base , California , as commander of the 22nd Bombardment Wing . In July 1982 he became deputy chief of staff for operations , Headquarters 15th Air Force , also at March . He was vice commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center , Hill Air Force Base , Utah , from July 1983 to October 1984 . He then went to AFLC headquarters as deputy chief of staff for plans and programs , and in December 1985 became chief of staff . In August 1987 he became deputy chief of staff for logistics and engineering at Air Force headquarters . He assumed AFLC command in November 1989 . He was a command pilot with more than 4 , 600 flying hours . His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster , Bronze Star Medal , Meritorious Service Medal , Air Medal with oak leaf cluster , Air Force Commendation Medal and Combat Readiness Medal . He was promoted to general November 1 , 1989 , with same date of rank , and retired June 30 , 1992 .