Hubert R . Harmon Lieutenant General Hubert Reilly Harmon ( April 3 , 1892 – February 22 , 1957 ) , after a distinguished combat career in World War II , was instrumental in developing plans for the establishment of the United States Air Force Academy . He was the first superintendent of the academy and was one of the persons most influential in establishing it as a successful educational institution . Training and education . Hubert R . Harmon was born in 1892 at Chester , Pennsylvania , and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1915 , as a member of " The class the stars fell on " . Harmon ' s first assignment was at Fort Monroe , Virginia , until December 1915 , when he was transferred to Fort Andrews , Massachusetts . In 1917 , he was assigned to Kelly Field , Texas , where he organized and served as commandant of the Ground Officer ' s Training School , and later as aeronautical officer for the Southern Department and engineer officer for Kelly Field . In March 1918 , he was appointed executive officer at Taliaferra Field , Texas , and a month later was placed in charge of Barron Field , Texas . In 1918 , Harmon completed advanced training in pursuit aviation at Issoudun , France , and became chief of staff of the Air Service Command of the Third Army at Coblenz , Germany . On July 1 , 1920 , he transferred to the Air Service . Military assignment history . In October 1920 , Harmon was assigned as assistant executive in the Office of the Chief of the Air Service at Washington , D . C . and served as an aide at the White House . In July 1924 , he was transferred to Bolling Field , and then to McCook Field , Ohio , where he entered the Air Service Engineering School , from which he graduated in August 1925 . He returned to the Office of the Chief of the Air Service in 1926 as chief of the Information Division and again served as an aide at the White House . From 1927 to 1929 , Harmon served as military attache for aviation in London . He then was assigned as an instructor at the United States Military Academy . In 1933 , he graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field , Alabama , and in 1935 , he graduated from the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth , Kansas . In 1936 , he was made commander of the 19th Bombardment Group . Harmon graduated from the Army War College in 1938 , and was then assigned to the War Department General Staff as chief of the Operations Branch , Personnel Division . In 1940 , Harmon assumed command of the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field , Texas , and one year later he was named commanding general of the Gulf Coast Air Corps Training Center at Randolph Field , Texas . In 1942 , General Harmon was appointed commanding general of the Sixth Air Force and a month later was promoted to Major General . He was promoted to Lieutenant General on February 19 , 1943 . In 1943 , he was appointed deputy commander for the air forces of the South Pacific Area and in January 1944 he assumed command of the 13th Air Force . In March – June , Harmon was commander of AirSols , all Allied air units in the Solomon Islands campaign . In June 1944 , he was appointed commander of the Sixth Air Force , in the Caribbean . In 1947 , General Harmon was appointed senior Air Force member of the Military and Naval Staff Committee of the United Nations in New York City . The next year , he was given the additional duty of United States delegate to the Inter - American Defense Board , and in 1949 was made special assistant for air academy matters at Air Force headquarters in Washington , D . C . . General Harmon retired from active duty February 27 , 1953 , but was recalled to active duty the following day with the same duties . He reverted to retired status June 30 , 1953 , but was again called back to active duty as a lieutenant general November 8 , 1953 , at the request of the President of the United States , to become special assistant to the chief of staff for air academy matters . On August 14 , 1954 , General Harmon became the first superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy at its temporary home in Lowry Air Force Base , Colorado . General Harmon reverted to retired status July 31 , 1956 , and died February 22 , 1957 at Lackland Air Force Base , Texas . Awards and decorations . General Harmon ' s decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters , the Legion of Merit , the Distinguished Flying Cross , the Air Medal , the Commendation Ribbon , the World War I Victory Medal , the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal ( World War I ) , the American Defense Service Medal , the American Campaign Medal ; the Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal with three service stars , the World War II Victory Medal , the National Defense Service Medal ; the Panamanian Order of Balboa ; Peruvian Military Order of Ayacacho , Grand Officer ; Peruvian Aviation Cross , First Class ; Ecuadorian Star of Adbon Calderon , First Class , and Commander Order of Leopold ( Belgium ) with Palm . The main administration building at the United States Air Force Academy , Harmon Hall , is named in his honor .