Robert D . Russ Robert Dale Russ ( March 7 , 1933 – May 22 , 1997 ) was a former General and commander of the Tactical Air Command . Biography . Early life . Russ was born in 1933 , in Portland , Oregon , and graduated from Wapato High School in Washington in 1951 . He received a bachelor ' s degree in business administration from Washington State University in 1955 . He was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Washington State University and entered active duty in September 1955 at Lackland Air Force Base , Texas . He completed pilot training at Webb Air Force Base , Texas , in October 1956 and subsequently attended F - 84F Thunderjet gunnery school at Luke Air Force Base , Arizona , and F - 100A Super Sabre gunnery school at Nellis Air Force Base , Nevada . In May 1957 , Russ was assigned to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force Station Bentwaters , England , flying F - 84F Thunderjets and , later , F - 101A Voodoos . After completing this tour of duty in May 1960 , he transferred to the 437th Fighter - Interceptor Squadron at Oxnard Air Force Base , California , where he flew F - 101Bs . Moving to Hamilton Air Force Base , California , in May 1962 , the general served as chief of the Fighter Section , Directorate of Tactical Evaluation , 28th Air Division , until August 1964 . After graduation from Air Command and Staff College in July 1965 , he was assigned to Headquarters Air Defense Command , Colorado . That same year , he also received a master ' s degree in business administration from The George Washington University . While there he served as a fighter officer in the Directorate of Tactical Evaluation and later as aide to the commander , Air Defense Command . After attending F - 4 replacement training at Davis - Monthan Air Force Base , Arizona , from July 1967 to January 1968 , Russ was assigned to the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base , Republic of Vietnam , where he flew 242 combat missions , of which 50 were over North Vietnam . Upon returning to the United States in March 1969 , he was a plans officer in the Fighter and Reconnaissance Branch of the Force Development Directorate , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff , Plans and Operations , Headquarters United States Air Force , Washington D . C . He moved from the Air Staff to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in December 1970 and served as plans officer for general purpose forces , J - 5 , Directorate of Plans , until July 1972 . The general graduated from the National War College in June 1973 and was assigned to the 68th Tactical Air Support Group , Shaw Air Force Base , South Carolina , as vice commander . He held that position until becoming deputy commander for operations of Shaw ' s 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in January 1974 . Later career . Russ was vice commander of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base , North Carolina , from February 1974 until August 1975 , when he became wing commander . In February 1977 he became assistant deputy chief of staff for plans at Tactical Air Command headquarters , and in July 1977 was named the command ' s assistant deputy chief of staff , operations , for operations and training . He assumed duties as assistant deputy chief of staff , operations , for control and support in July 1978 . In November 1979 Russ moved to Air Force headquarters and was appointed director of operational requirements , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff , Research , Development and Acquisition . The general was named vice commander of Tactical Air Command in October 1982 and in July 1983 became special assistant to the vice chief of staff , Washington , D . C . In October 1983 he became deputy chief of staff for research , development and acquisition at Air Force headquarters . He assumed his present command in May 1985 . He was promoted to general May 22 , 1985 , with same date of rank . He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery . Awards . Awards earned during his career :