Robert L . Rutherford Robert Lynn Rutherford ( December 11 , 1938 – July 4 , 2013 ) was a former General in the United States Air Force and the former commander of the United States Transportation Command . he was born in Luling , Texas . Biography . Early career . Robert entered the Air Force in 1961 as a distinguished graduate of Southwest Texas State University ' s Reserve Officer Training Corps program . While in college , he earned a bachelor ' s degree in business administration . Upon graduation he married his college sweetheart Grace ( Kita ) Hyatt . They had two boys Jim and Greg and were happily married for more than 50 years . After graduation , he was a student in undergraduate pilot training , then flight instructor at Reese Air Force Base in Texas . During this time , he instructed students in the T - 38 Talon . In 1964 , he graduated from the Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base . From October 1966 - April 1967 , Robert was a F - 4 Phantom pilot with the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing , at George Air Force Base in California . From April to July 1967 , he was an F - 4 aircraft commander with the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida . From July 1967 - May 1968 , he was a Phantom commander with the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base , Thailand . During this time , he was deployed to Vietnam , where he flew 161 combat missions , including 101 over North Vietnam . Post - Vietnam . From May 1968 - January 1971 he was the operations staff officer , Airspace and Air Traffic Control Division , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations , Headquarters Air Training Command , at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas . In from January 1971 - July 1971 , he earned a degree from the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk , Virginia . Between July 1971 and May 1972 , he was the staff officer , Colonels Group , directorate of personnel , at the Headquarters of the United States Air Force , Washington , D . C . . During the period between June 1972 and May 1973 , he was the chief , critical skill management division , Colonels Group , Directorate of Personnel , Headquarters of the United States Air Force , Washington , D . C . From May 1973 to February 1975 , he acted as the chief , Regular General Officer Assignment Division , Directorate of Personnel , Air Force Headquarters . Between February and September 1975 , he was a T - 38 instructor pilot and commander of the 71st Flying Training Squadron , Moody Air Force Base , Georgia . From September 1975 to July 1978 , Robert served as the deputy commander for operations , 38th Flying Training Wing ; assistant deputy commander for operations , 347th Tactical Fighter Wing ; commander , 339th Tactical Fighter Squadron ; commander , 347th Combat Support Group at Moody . Between August 1978 to July 1979 , he attended the Air War College at Maxwell . In 1979 , he earned a master ' s degree in business administration at Auburn University . 1980s . From July 1979 to June 1980 , he served as the deputy colonel for operations , 8th Tactical Fighter Wing , Kunsan Air Base , South Korea . Robert then served as the vice commander , 18th Tactical Fighter Wing ; commander , 18th Tactical Fighter Group ; commander , 18th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kadena Air Base , Japan between June 1980 and August 1982 . For the next year , beginning in September 1982 , Robert served as vice commander , Air Force Military Personnel Center , and assistant deputy chief of staff for military personnel at Randolph Air Force Base , Texas . Between September 1983 and January 1985 , he was the commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service , and deputy chief of staff for recruiting , Headquarters Air Training Command at Randolph . Between January 1985 and March 1987 , he was the deputy director of programs and evaluation , director of manpower and organization , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Resources , at Air Force headquarters . In 1986 , he graduated from the National and International Security Program at the John F . Kennedy School of Government . From March 1987 to April 1988 he served as the deputy chief of staff for operations , and deputy director of operations for the European Air Combat Operations Staff , Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe , Ramstein Air Base , West Germany . During the time period from April 1988 to October 1989 , he was the commander of the 17th Air Force , Allied Sector Three , and Allied Tactical Operations Center , at Sembach Air Base , West Germany . From October 1989 to May 1991 Robert was the deputy chief of staff for programs and resources , deputy chief of staff for productivity and programs , at the Headquarters of the United States Air Force . Post - Cold War . Between May 1991 and May 1992 , he was the vice commander of the Military Airlift Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois . From May 1992 to October 1994 , he was the vice commander , then commander of the Pacific Air Forces , Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii . From October 1994 - August 1 , 1996 , he was the commander in chief for the United States Transportation Command and commander of Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base , Illinois . In 1996 , he retired with the rank of four - star general . Over his career , he has flown over 4 , 000 flying hours in various airlift , tanker , fighter and trainer aircraft . He died of natural causes on July 4 , 2013 at San Antonio , Texas . He is interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery . Awards . Awards earned during his career : Promotion dates . Dates of promotion :