Monroe W . Hatch Jr . Monroe W . Hatch Jr . ( born November 20 , 1933 ) is a former General in the United States Air Force and the former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force . Biography . Early life . Hatch was born in 1933 , in New Orleans , Louisiana . He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1951 and graduated in 1955 with a bachelor of science degree . Upon graduation from the academy , Hatch was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force and assigned to the 3415th Technical Training Wing , Lowry Air Force Base , Colorado , for guidance officer training . In February 1956 he transferred to the 587th Tactical Missile Group at Sembach Air Base , West Germany , as a squadron guided missile officer . In February 1958 he entered pilot training at Graham Air Force Base , Florida , and continued training at Greenville Air Force Base , Mississippi , where he received his wings in January 1959 . After B - 47 Stratojet combat crew training , he was assigned to the 321st Bombardment Wing , McCoy Air Force Base , Florida . In July 1961 he transitioned to B - 52 Stratofortress es and served as a pilot with the 42nd Bombardment Wing , Loring Air Force Base , Maine . He was assigned as a special projects officer and , later , programs officer in the Advanced Technical Division , Headquarters Strategic Air Command , Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska , from July 1964 to April 1965 . He then served as an operations staff officer in the Astronautics Technology and Applications Office , under the deputy chief of staff for plans . In June 1967 he attended the University of Oklahoma under the Air Force Institute of Technology program . While there he was elected to Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Gamma Tau honor societies . He was assigned to Headquarters 7th Air Force , Tan Son Nhut Air Base , Republic of Vietnam , in June 1969 , serving as a T - 39 Sabreliner courier pilot and as 7th Air Force standardization and evaluation flight examiner . In October 1970 Hatch was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense , Washington D . C . , where he served as military assistant for strategic analysis in the Office of the Deputy Director for Strategic and Space Systems , Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering . He then attended the National War College from August 1973 until July 1974 . After graduating , Hatch was assigned to the Aircraft Division , Directorate of Operational Requirements and Development , Headquarters United States Air Force , Washington D . C . After serving as deputy division chief , he became chief of the division in June 1976 . In September 1978 he was assigned as deputy director for strategic forces , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research , Development and Acquisition . He returned to Strategic Air Command headquarters in June 1979 as assistant deputy chief of staff of plans for operational requirements . In March 1981 he became commander of 14th Air Division , Beale Air Force Base , California . He was assigned to SAC headquarters in February 1982 and served as deputy chief of staff for plans until February 1983 , when he became the command ' s chief of staff . Hatch was appointed inspector general of the Air Force in September 1984 . In August 1985 he was assigned as vice commander in chief , Strategic Air Command , Offutt Air Force Base . He assumed his final duty as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force in February 1987 . He retired on June 1 , 1990 . After retirement , he became the executive director of the Air Force Association . He has also works in the private sector . Awards . Awards earned during his career :