Alfred G . Hansen Alfred Gustav Hansen ( born April 13 , 1933 ) is a retired United States Air Force four - star general who served as Commander , Air Force Logistics Command ( COMAFLC ) from 1987 to 1989 . Military career . Hansen was born in 1933 , in New York City . He graduated from Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park , New York in 1951 and then attended Hofstra College . He received a bachelor ' s degree in business administration and management from Troy State University in 1972 . He completed Air Command and Staff College in 1966 , and Air War College in 1972 . He initially enlisted in the Air Force and later was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the aviation cadet program , receiving his pilot wings in February 1955 at Vance Air Force Base , Oklahoma . His first assignment was with the 303rd Air Refueling Squadron , Davis - Monthan Air Force Base , Arizona , as a KC - 97 Stratotanker pilot . In December 1958 he was assigned to Castle Air Force Base , California , for KC - 135 combat crew training and upon completion was assigned as an Boeing EC - 135 and KC - 135 pilot with the 34th Air Refueling Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska , until August 1965 . After graduating from Air Command and Staff College in July 1966 , Hansen was assigned to the Air Force Systems Command , Headquarters Air Force Eastern Test Range , Patrick Air Force Base , Florida , and served as a member of the Apollo spacecraft recovery team until March 1968 . He then was assigned to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base , Thailand , as an A - 1 Skyraider pilot with the 1st Air Commando Squadron , later redesignated the 1st Special Operations Squadron . He flew 113 combat missions . From September 1968 to March 1969 he served in the Republic of Vietnam as a fighter operations staff officer at Headquarters 7th Air Force , Tan Son Nhut Air Base . Hansen was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base , Virginia , from April 1969 to July 1971 . While there he served as chief and , later , operations staff officer in the Aircraft Allocation and Flying Hour , and Operational Planning branches , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff , Operations . After completing Air War College in November 1972 , he was assigned to Pope Air Force Base , North Carolina . He first served as operations officer with the 39th Tactical Airlift Squadron and then , from June 1973 until November 1974 , as commander of the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron . During this period he commanded several overseas squadron rotational missions in Thailand , England and West Germany . He then was assigned to the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing staff as the deputy commander for maintenance . After graduation with honors from the Aircraft Maintenance - Avionics Officers Course at Chanute Air Force Base , Illinois in 1975 , he returned to the wing as deputy commander for maintenance . In October 1977 Hansen was assigned to Headquarters Military Airlift Command , Scott Air Force Base , Illinois , as director of maintenance engineering . Hel assumed command of the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing , Little Rock Air Force Base , Arkansas , in October 1978 . During his tenure the wing participated in the Worldwide Airlift competition , winning the best maintenance award in 1979 and the General William Moore trophy for best overall airlift wing in 1981 . In August 1981 he returned to Military Airlift Command headquarters as deputy chief of staff for logistics , responsible for ensuring the logistics readiness of worldwide airlift forces . From February 1983 to May 1985 he was assigned as director for logistics plans and programs , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Engineering , Headquarters U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . He also served as primary member of the Air Staff Board . In June 1985 he became director for logistics , J - 4 , Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Washington , D . C . In this position he was responsible for worldwide logistics in support of theater commander ' s war plans , was a member of the Senior NATO Logistics Forum and directed the study that resulted in the formation of the United States Transportation Command . He assumed command of AFLC in July 1987 . He retired from the Air Force on November 1 , 1989 .