Raymond J . Reeves General Raymond Judson Reeves ( February 5 , 1909 – November 16 , 1998 ) was a United States Air Force four - star general who served as Commander in Chief , North American Air Defense Command / Commander in Chief , Continental Air Defense Command ( CINCNORAD / CINCONAD ) from 1966 to 1969 . Reeves was born in Chattanooga , Tennessee , in 1909 . He moved to Washington , D . C . , at an early age where he attended grammar and high school . After two years at the University of Maryland he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York . He graduated and was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1934 . He entered flying training the same year and received his pilot wings in October 1935 at Kelly Field , Texas . In February 1936 he was assigned to the 3rd Pursuit Squadron at Clark Field , Philippine Islands . Two and a half years later he returned to the United States and was assigned to the Air Corps Technical School at Lowry Field , Colorado . At the beginning of World War II , he was assigned as director of training , Army Air Forces Technical School , Gulfport Field , Mississippi . Later Reeves served as director of training , then commanding officer of the Army Air Forces Technical School at Yale University . Under his command , the school graduated more than 14 , 000 officers specifically trained in aircraft maintenance , engineering , air and ground communications , aircraft armament and aerial intelligence photography . In 1945 he was assigned to the Far East Command as chief of the Redeployment Section , later becoming assistant chief of Air Staff for Supply . During his Far East Air Forces tour of duty he also served as deputy commanding officer , 13th Fighter Command ; chief of staff , 85th Fighter Wing ; and as commander , Fort William McKinley . Following duty assignments at U . S . Air Force Headquarters in Washington , D . C . , Reeves was assigned to Headquarters U . S . Air Forces in Europe , Wiesbaden , Germany , as assistant chief of staff for personnel . During this time USAFE was helping to reinforce the North Atlantic Treaty Organization through a buildup of U . S . Air Force units in Europe . He was responsible for manning combat and support units , as well as for personnel policies for a command of more than 100 , 000 people in more than 15 countries of Europe , North Africa and the Middle East . Returning to U . S . Air Force headquarters in 1954 , he was assigned as director of military personnel under the deputy chief of staff , personnel . In July 1959 he became vice commander of the Military Air Transport Service with headquarters at Scott Air Force Base , Illinois , and in August 1963 he became commander in chief , Alaskan Command with additional duty as commander , Alaskan NORAD Region . In August 1966 Reeves was appointed commander in chief of NORAD / CONAD , with headquarters at Ent Air Force Base , Colorado . His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit , Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with oak leaf cluster . He retired from the Air Force on July 31 , 1969 and died November 16 , 1998 .