James V . Hartinger James Vincent Hartinger ( April 17 , 1925October 9 , 2000 ) was a United States Air Force general who served as Commander in Chief , North American Air Defense Command ( CINCNORAD ) from 1980 to 1981 ; Commander in Chief , North American Aerospace Defense Command ( CINCNORAD ) from 1981 to 1982 ; North American Aerospace Defense Command / Commander , Air Force Space Command ( CINCNORAD / COMAFSPC ) from 1982 to 1984 . He was a command pilot with more than 5 , 000 flying hours and was the first recipient of the Master Space Badge . Early life and education . Hartinger was born on April 17 , 1925 , in Middleport , Ohio , where he graduated from high school in 1943 . He received a bachelor of science degree from the United States Military Academy in 1949 , and a master ' s degree in business administration from the George Washington University , Washington , D . C . , in 1963 . He is also a graduate of Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama , in 1955 and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Lesley J . McNair , Washington , D . C . , in 1966 . Career . Hartinger was drafted into the United States Army in July 1943 and attained the grade of sergeant while serving in the infantry . Following World War II he entered the academy and upon graduation in 1949 was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U . S . Air Force . Hartinger attended pilot training at Randolph Air Force Base , Texas , and Williams Air Force Base , Arizona , where he graduated in August 1950 . He then was assigned as a jet fighter pilot with the 36th Fighter - Bomber Wing at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base , Germany . In December 1952 he joined the 474th Fighter - Bomber Wing at Kunsan Air Base , South Korea . While there he flew his first combat missions in F - 84 Thunderjet s . Returning to Williams Air Force Base in July 1953 , he served as a gunnery instructor with the 3526th Pilot Training Squadron . Hartinger then transferred to Stewart Air Force Base , New York , in August 1954 as a fighter pilot and air operations officer in the 331st Fighter - Interceptor Squadron . During this period he attended Squadron Officer School . In July 1958 , Hartinger began a four - year tour of duty in the Directorate of Requirements , Headquarters U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . After receiving his master ' s degree in June 1963 , he was assigned to Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii , in the Directorate of Plans , Headquarters Pacific Air Forces . Following graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in June 1966 , he completed F - 4C Phantom replacement training with the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base , Florida . From December 1966 to December 1967 , he was assigned to Headquarters 7th Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Air Base , Republic of Vietnam . He completed more than 100 aerial combat missions while assigned in the Republic of Vietnam . In 1968 , Hartinger was the F - 111 test director at Nellis Air Force Base , Nevada , and then took command of the famed " Flying Tigers , " the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing , flying F - 105 Thunderchief s at McConnell Air Force Base , Kansas . He became deputy chief of staff for plans at North American Air Defense Command headquarters , Ent Air Force Base , Colorado , in June 1970 . He moved to Maxwell Air Force Base in May 1973 as commandant of the Air War College . From July 1975 until June 1978 , Hartinger was commander of the Tactical Air Command ' s 9th Air Force with headquarters at Shaw Air Force Base , South Carolina . He then was commander of Tactical Air Command ' s 12th Air Force with headquarters at Bergstrom Air Force Base , Texas . He became commander in chief of North American Aerospace Defense Command in January 1980 . Awards and decorations . Hartinger ' s military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster , Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster , Distinguished Flying Cross , Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters , Air Force Commendation Medal , Combat Readiness Medal and the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit Tung II . Hartinger also received an honorary doctor of military science from Norwich University in Vermont in 1982 , and an honorary doctor of laws from the University of Akron in 1983 . In 1975 , he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame . The National Defense Industrial Association named the Hartinger Medal after him , which is presented annually to an individual who made a significant contribution to the military space mission of the United States . Personal life . During World War II , Hartinger became friends with the musician Hardrock Gunter , who was in his unit , and they remained close until Hartinger ' s death on October 9 , 2000 .