Lauris Norstad Lauris Norstad ( March 24 , 1907 – September 12 , 1988 ) was an American General in the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force . Early life and military career . Lauris Norstad was born in Minneapolis , Minnesota , in 1907 . He graduated from the United States Military Academy June 12 , 1930 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Cavalry . In September 1930 , he entered Primary Flying School at March Field , California , and graduated from Advanced Flying School and was transferred to the Air Corps in June 1931 . Going to Schofield Barracks , Hawaii , in January 1932 , he was assigned to the 18th Pursuit Group , assuming command of it in July 1933 . In March 1936 he was named adjutant of the Ninth Bomb Group there . Entering the " short course " the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field , Alabama , in September 1939 , he graduated three months later and returned to Mitchel Field as officer in charge of the 9th Bomb Group Navigation School . Moving to Langley Field , Virginia , in July 1940 , General Norstad was Adjutant of the 25th Bomb Group , and the following November he was named Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence of General Headquarters Air Force there . In February 1942 he was appointed a member of the Advisory Council to the commanding general of the Army Air Forces at Washington , DC . World War II . In August 1942 , Norstad was named Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations ( A - 3 ) of the Twelfth Air Force , going to England with it the following month in support of Operation Husky , and to Algiers , North Africa in October 1942 . In February 1943 , he was promoted to Brigadier General and assumed the additional duty of assistant chief of staff for operations of the Northwest African Air Forces . In December 1943 he was appointed director of operations of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces at Algiers , moving with it to Caserta , Italy , two months later . Norstad was transferred to Washington , D . C . in August 1944 , where he was deputy chief of Air Staff at Army Air Force Headquarters with added duty as chief of staff of the 20th Air Force . He was relieved of this additional duty May 8 , 1945 , and assumed additional duty as assistant chief of Air Staff for Plans at Army Air Force Headquarters . He was promoted to Major General the following month . Relieved of assignment as chief of staff of the 20th Air Force in February 1946 , he continued as assistant chief of air staff for plans until the following June , when he was appointed director of the Plans and Operations Division of the War Department at Washington , DC . On October 1 , 1947 , following the division of the War Department into the Departments of The Army and The Air Force , General Norstad was appointed deputy chief of staff for operations of the Air Force , and the following May assumed additional duty as acting vice chief of staff of the Air Force . SHAPE leadership . Joining the U . S . Air Forces in Europe in October 1950 General Norstad was commander in chief , USAFE , with Headquarters at Wiesbaden , Germany . On April 2 , 1951 he assumed additional duty as commanding general of the Allied Air Forces in Central Europe under the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Europe . He was designated air deputy to the supreme allied commander , Europe , SHAPE , on July 27 , 1953 . Relieved of duty as Air Deputy to the Supreme Allied Commander , Europe ( SACEUR ) on November 20 , 1956 , Norstad was appointed by the president as the new Supreme Allied Commander Europe , and Commander in Chief , U . S . European Command . As such he initially encouraged France to develop its own nuclear capacity , but then defected on the idea once he grew disillusioned with French President Charles de Gaulle ' s interference with NATO . His decorations included the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters , Silver Star , Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster , Air Medal , and the French Legion of Honor by decision of General de Gaulle himself . He was rated a command pilot , combat observer , and technical observer . General Norstad retired on December 31 , 1963 . He died on September 12 , 1988 .