Seth J . McKee General Seth Jefferson McKee ( born November 6 , 1916 ) is a retired United States Air Force general who served as Commander in Chief , North American Air Defense Command / Commander in Chief , Continental Air Defense Command ( CINCNORAD / CINCONAD ) from 1969 to 1973 . History . McKee was born in 1916 , in McGehee , Arkansas . Following graduation from Cape Girardeau High School in Missouri in 1934 , he attended Southeast Missouri State Teachers College for three years and the University of Oklahoma for a half year . He began his military career in 1935 , as a member of the Missouri National Guard , and his Air Force career as an aviation cadet in February 1938 . He graduated from flight training in February 1939 . From February 1939 until January 1944 , he served in operations and command positions at squadron and group levels . He then went to the European Theater of Operations and was named deputy commander of the 370th Fighter Group in England . He assumed command of the 370th Group in November 1944 and served in France , Belgium and Germany . During World War II , he logged more than 190 hours in 69 combat missions in the P - 38 Lightning and is credited with destroying two enemy aircraft . At the end of World War II , he returned to the United States and served with the 3501st Army Air Forces Bases Unit at Boca Raton Army Airfield , Boca Raton , Florida as commander of the Army Air Forces Radar School . In January 1947 he entered the University of Oklahoma as a student officer and graduated in August 1947 with a bachelor of arts degree in government . After graduation he was assigned to Headquarters , Twelfth Air Force , March Air Force Base , California , where he was chief of the Operations and Training Division and later director of plans . In July 1948 he entered Air Command and Staff School , Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama . After graduation he served as director of the Air Force Reserve at Twelfth Air Force until April 1950 . In May 1950 he was assigned to the Air Force Section of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Rome , Italy , as chief , Technical Advisor to the Italian Air Force . He held this position until July 1951 , when he was assigned to Headquarters U . S . Air Forces in Europe , as chief of the Training Branch , Operations and Training Division . In December 1951 he was appointed commander of the 36th Fighter Bomber Group in Europe . In June 1953 he returned to the United States and was assigned to Headquarters U . S . Air Force as staff planning officer in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations . In February 1954 he was named assistant secretary of the Air Force Council , Office of the Vice Chief of Staff . In July 1956 McKee was transferred to Hunter Air Force Base , Georgia , as deputy commander of the 308th Bombardment Wing . Then on 15 Dec 1956 , he was assigned as commander , 2d Bombardment Wing . In August 1958 he assumed command of the 823d Air Division , Homestead Air Force Base , Florida . McKee was assigned to Headquarters , Strategic Air Command , Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska , in October 1959 , as deputy director of plans and later was named director of plans . In February 1964 he became commander of the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division at Ellsworth Air Force Base , South Dakota . In January 1965 McKee was reassigned to Headquarters U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . , and named director of plans , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff , Plans and Operations . In July 1965 he was assigned duty as assistant deputy chief of staff , plans and operations for Joint Chiefs of Staff matters . In July 1966 he was named commander of U . S . Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force with headquarters at Fuchu Air Station , Japan . McKee was appointed assistant vice chief of staff , U . S . Air Force , in Washington , D . C . , in July 1968 . On 1 August 1969 McKee was named commander in chief of North American Air Defense Command and Continental Air Defense Command ( NORAD / CONAD ) , with headquarters at Ent Air Force Base , Colorado . At this time , he received his fourth star . In July 1973 he was assigned additional duty as commander of U . S . Aerospace Defense Command . His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal , Silver Star , Legion of Merit with two oak leaf cluster s , Distinguished Flying Cross , Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters , Croix de Guerre with Palm ( France ) , Croix de Guerre with Palm ( Belgium ) , Belgian Fourragere , Order of Leopold with Palm ( Belgium ) , First Class Order of the Crown of Thailand , Order of the Sacred Treasure , First Class ( Japan ) , and Order of National Security Merit , Second Class ( Republic of Korea ) . McKee retired from the Air Force on September 30 , 1973 .