Michael P . C . Carns Michael Patrick Chamberlain Carns ( born June 23 , 1937 ) was the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1991 to 1994 . Early life . Carns was born in Junction City , Kansas . After graduating from St . John ' s College High School , Washington , D . C . in 1955 , he went to the United States Air Force Academy and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1959 . After completing his B . S . degree , Carns completed primary pilot training in March 1960 at Graham Air Base in Florida and basic pilot training in September 1960 at Laredo Air Force Base in Texas . Career . Following pilot training , Carns served as a Flight Instructor at Laredo Air Force Base , Texas . In 1961 , he was appointed Aide to the Commander , Air Reserve Records Center , Denver , Colorado , then Aide to the Commander , 4th Air Force Reserve Region , Randolph Air Force Base , Texas , followed by duty as Air Operations Officer at the same base . Carns completed an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1967 . After getting his MBA , he was assigned to the 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron , George Air Force Base , flying F - 4 Phantom II ' s . He transferred to the 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron , Eglin Air Force Base , again flying F - 4s in January 1968 . From August 1968 to September 1969 he was assigned to the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron , Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand , where he flew 200 combat missions in the F - 4E . Carns returned to the US in September 1969 and he was assigned to Air Force headquarters as a Plans and Programs Officer , and later , as Aide to the United States Air Force Chief of Staff . This was followed by tours at Madrid - Torrejón Airport in Spain , Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium and , RAF Bentwaters in England . After completing the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1977 , Carns was assigned to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing , RAF Bentwaters , as deputy commander for operations . Carns returned to the US in March 1979 and took command of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing , Myrtle Beach Air Force Base . He moved to Nellis Air Force Base in October 1980 as commander of the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing . In June 1982 he became director of operations , J - 3 , Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force , later redesignated United States Central Command , MacDill Air Force Base . He became deputy chief of staff for plans , Headquarters Pacific Air Forces , Hickam Air Force Base in July 1984 , and deputy chief of staff for operations and intelligence in June 1985 . In July 1986 he assumed command of 13th Air Force , Clark Air Base in the Philippines . In June 1987 he was assigned as deputy commander in chief and chief of staff , United States Pacific Command , Camp H . M . Smith in Hawaii . In September 1989 he became Director of the Joint Staff , Washington , DC . He became the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force in May 1991 . On May 16 , 1991 , he was promoted to the rank of general . Life after retirement from U . S . Air Force . Carns retired from the United States Air Force in September 1994 . After retiring from the U . S . Air Force , he served as the Managing Director of a small healthcare firm for one year , followed by over four years as Executive Director of a New York - based policy research firm that specialized in Pacific Rim security in the areas of international capital flows and international energy demands . He is currently the Vice Chairman of PrivaSource , Inc . , a small software firm specializing in the security and de - identification of large , sensitive databases , in Weston , Massachusetts . Carns is also currently serves on the Board of Directors for VirtualAgility , Inc . and M - International , Inc . Military awards and decorations . Carns has received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster , Air Force Distinguished Service Medal , Silver Star , Defense Superior Service Medal , Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters , Distinguished Flying Cross , Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters , Air Force Commendation Medal and the Government of the Philippines Outstanding Achievement Medal .