William F . McKee William Fulton McKee ( October 17 , 1906 – February 28 , 1987 ) was a United States Air Force four - star general who served as Commander , Air Force Logistics Command ( COMAFLC ) from 1961 to 1962 ; and Vice Chief of Staff , U . S . Air Force ( VCSAF ) from 1962 to 1964 . He later served as the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator from 1965 to 1968 Military career . McKee was born at Chilhowie , Virginia , in 1906 . He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York , and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps of the Regular Army June 13 , 1929 . His first assignment upon graduation was with the 13th Coast Artillery at Fort Barrancas , Florida . He then went to Fort Randolph in the Panama Canal Zone where he served as a battery officer in the First Coast Artillery . After two years service at that station , he was transferred to the 63rd Coast Artillery at Fort MacArthur , California , where he served as battery commander , assistant adjutant of the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles , and later executive officer of the Civilian Conservation Corps in that area . In September 1935 , he became a student at the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe , Virginia , and upon completion of the course the following June , was assigned to Fort Mills , Corregidor , Philippine Islands ; as regimental adjutant , plans training and intelligence officer , and battery commander of the 63rd Coast Artillery . Returning to the United States in October 1938 , he was assigned to the Presidio of San Francisco , California , as an assistant to G - 2 , Ninth Corps Area . The following October he was again ordered to foreign duty - this time at Fort Buchanan , Puerto Rico , where he became battery commander and later commanding officer of the 66th Coast Artillery , transferring with that organization to Borinquen Field , Puerto Rico . Later he became executive officer of the Caribbean Interceptor Command under Major General Follett Bradley . In October 1941 , he returned to the United States for assignment to the 71st Coast Artillery at Fort Story , Virginia , as battalion commander and regimental adjutant of the First Battalion . He later performed the same duties when his division moved to the Naval Operating Base at Norfolk , Virginia . In January 1942 he was assigned to Headquarters Army Air Forces and was later appointed chief of the Anti - Aircraft and Airdrome Defense Section and Anti - Aircraft Artillery Division . Shortly thereafter , he became executive officer for the Directorate of Air Defense . In November 1943 , he became deputy assistant chief of Air Staff for operations , commitments and requirements , which corresponds roughly to the present Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff , Operations . In January 1946 , he was appointed chief of staff of Air Transport Command with headquarters at Washington . The following August he went to Europe as commanding general of the European Division , ATC , with station at Paris , France . In December 1946 he transferred to Headquarters U . S . Air Force in Europe at Wiesbaden , Germany , and the following month became commanding general of the Headquarters Command of USAFE at Wiesbaden . Returning to the United States in August 1947 , he was appointed assistant vice chief of staff of the U . S . Air Force on September 27 , 1947 . He was assigned to Headquarters Air Materiel Command as vice commander on June 10 , 1953 . On April 1 , 1961 Air Materiel Command was redesignated Air Force Logistics Command . On August 1 , 1961 , McKee became a four - star general and assumed the post of commander , Air Force Logistics Command . On July 1 , 1962 , McKee moved to Washington and became vice chief of staff of the Air Force . McKee was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster . He was presented the first annual Distinguished Management Award of the Air Force Association on July 31 , 1957 . He retired from the Air Force on July 31 , 1964 . Post - military career . After retiring from the military , McKee briefly served as the assistant administrator for management development at NASA , and in 1965 was chosen by President Johnson to head the Federal Aviation administration . After leaving the FAA , he was president of Schriever - McKee Associates ( later Schriever & McKee , Inc . ) in Arlington , Virginia from 1968 to 1987 . He died on February 28 , 1987 in San Antonio , Texas after a brief illness . He was survived by his wife , Gertrude , and two sons .