Arthur C . Agan , Jr . Arthur Columbus Agan , Jr . ( September 12 , 1915 – February 9 , 2004 ) was an American Air Force lieutenant general who was commander of the United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command with headquarters at Ent Air Force Base , Colorado . Biography . Agan was born in San Antonio , Texas , in 1915 . After spending his boyhood in Corpus Christi , Texas , Agan entered the University of Texas . In 1937 he postponed his studies for a year to enroll as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps . After completion of flying training at Randolph and Kelly fields , Texas , he was commissioned a second lieutenant . He returned to the University of Texas and graduated in 1939 with a bachelor of business administration degree . Immediately following his graduation Agan resumed active military duty and obtained a regular commission through competitive examinations . Until early 1942 he served in various squadron duties as pilot , flight commander and operations officer at Barksdale Field , Louisiana , and Savannah Army Air Field , Georgia . In February 1942 Agan was appointed chief of tactical operations at Headquarters Eighth Air Force in England remaining in that position until January 1944 . He then served as assistant air chief of staff for operations for the U . S . Army Air Forces in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations . Assigned to the First Fighter Group in Italy in September 1944 , Agan became commander of the group in November 1944 . After completing 45 combat missions , with a total of 220 combat hours , he was shot down over Weiner - Neustadt in March 1945 and interned as a prisoner of war until just prior to V - E Day . Returning to the United States in 1945 , Agan was assigned to the Personnel Services Division , Headquarters , Army Air Force , Washington , D . C . He became chief of that division in January 1946 . From August 1946 to February 1949 Agan was assistant chief of staff for personnel , Air Defense Command , and later deputy for personnel and administration , Continental Air Command , both at Mitchel Field , New York . He then became commander of the 4th Fighter Wing at Andrews Air Force Base , Maryland , and in May 1949 became commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing at Otis Air Force Base , Massachusetts . Two years later Agan assumed the duties of commander of the 32nd Air Division , with headquarters at Stewart Air Force Base , New York . He remained in that assignment until September 1951 , when he attended the Air Command and Staff School and in October 1951 was assigned to the school staff at Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama . He then attended the Air War College , also at Maxwell , and graduated in June 1953 . In August 1953 Agan became commander of the 58th Fighter - Bomber Wing in Korea . Upon his return to the United States the following year , Agan was assigned to Headquarters Eastern Air Defense Force at Stewart Air Force Base , N . Y . There he served as deputy for operations and later as chief of staff , Continental Air Defense Command Eastern CONAD Region . Agan became commander of the 26th Air Division , with headquarters at Roslyn Air Force Station , N . Y . , in August 1957 . During the following year , and under Agan ' s leadership , the operational concepts for the Semi - Automatic Ground Environment system of air defense and the plans for transition of air defense units to that system were developed and initiated . In September 1958 Agan assumed command of the New York Air Defense Sector with headquarters at McGuire Air Force Base , N . J . , the first operational SAGE Sector in the nation . Reassigned to Headquarters ADC at Ent Air Force Base , Colo . , in October 1959 , he assumed the position of deputy for plans , later redesignated deputy chief of staff for plans . In July 1963 Agan was reassigned to Hancock Field , New York , for duty as commander , 26th Air Division ( SAGE ) . In July 1964 Agan was assigned to the Pentagon , Washington , D . C . , for duty as director of plans , Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations . In December 1964 he was reassigned as assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and operations . He was assigned as vice commander - in - chief , U . S . Air Forces in Europe in September 1966 . Agan assumed the duties of commander of the Aerospace Defense Command with headquarters at Ent Air Force Base , Colorado , in August 1967 . He retired March 1 , 1970 . His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters , Distinguished Flying Cross , Bronze Star Medal , Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters , Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster , Purple Heart , Croix de Guerre with Palm ( Belgium ) and the Croix de Guerre with Palm ( France ) .