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First Name: Joseph

Last Name: Ashy

Birthplace: Jasper, TX, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Air Force (1947 - present)



Middle Name: William



Date of Birth: 16 October 1940



Rank: General

Years Served: 1962-1996
Joseph William Ashy

   
Engagements:
•  Vietnam War (1960 - 1973)

Biography:

Joseph William Ashy
General, U.S. Air Force

Joseph William Ashy was born on 16 October 1940 in Jasper, TX.

Ashy entered the Air Force in 1962 as a distinguished graduate of Texas A&M University's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He has commanded two fighter wings, the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center at Nellis AFB, NV, and Air Training Command. He also commanded NATO's Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and 16th Air Force. As the Air Component Commander to CINCSOUTH, he commanded NATO air forces in the Mediterranean area and directed the air operation over Bosnia.

On 13 September 1994, Ashy was promoted to the rank of four-star General and named as Commander-in-Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD); Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Space Command (USCINCSPACE); and Commander, Air Force Space Command (COMAFSPC).

General Ashy retired from the Air Force on 1 October 1996. During his service, he became a Command Pilot with over 3,500 flying hours in fighter and attack aircraft, including 289 combat missions in Vietnam. The aircraft flown include the F-100, A-7, F-4, F-5, and F-16.

Education

● 1962 Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University
● 1979 Master's degree in Public Administration, Auburn University, AL
● 1979 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
● 1987 National Security Programs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Assignments

● September 1962 - October 1963, student, pilot training, Reese AFB, TX.
● November 1963 - July 1964, student, F-100 combat crew training, Luke AFB, AZ.
● August 1964 - August 1967, F-100 fighter pilot, 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England.
● August 1967 - August 1968, F-100 fighter pilot, 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, and later, Weapons and Tactics Officer, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam.
● September 1968 - August 1969, Air Staff training program, plans and operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.
● September 1969 - June 1971, F-100 Instructor Pilot, 426th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron; then A-7 Instructor Pilot, 310th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ.
● June 1971 - April 1972, A-7 Instructor Pilot, 333rd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.
● April 1972 - June 1975, Action Officer, then Chief, Fighter Assignments Section, Air Force Military Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, TX.
● July 1975 - July 1976, Operations Officer, 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron, (F-4s), Osan Air Base, South Korea.
● August 1976 - August 1978, Commander, 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron (F-4s); then Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, UT.
● August 1978 - June 1979, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
● July 1979 - August 1982, Division Chief, Plans and Operations, then Executive Officer to the Air Force Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.
● August 1982 - May 1984, Commander, 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, George AFB, CA.
● May 1984 - February 1986, Commander, 57th Fighter Weapons Wing, Nellis AFB, NV.
● February 1986 - June 1988, Director, Joint Control Group, U.S. Atlantic Command Exercise Ocean Venture '86; then Inspector General, Chief of Staff; Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans; Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, VA.
● June 1988 - July 1989, Commander, U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis AFB, NV.
● July 1989 - June 1990, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations; then Vice Commander, Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, VA.
● June 1990 - December 1992, Commander, Air Training Command, Randolph AFB, TX.
● December 1992 - February 1994, Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe for the Southern Area.
● February 1994 - September 1994, Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and Commander, 16th Air Force, U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
● September 1994 - 1996, Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Space Command, and Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with 2 Silver and 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award with Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Command Pilot Badge
Master Space and Missileman Badge

Promotion Dates

Second Lieutenant - 24 August 1962
First Lieutenant - 30 March 1964
Captain - 19 January 1967
Major - 1 March 1971
Lieutenant Colonel - 1 May 1975
Colonel - 1 May 1978
Brigadier General - 1 October 1984
Major General - 1 August 1987
Lieutenant General - 21 November 1989
General - 13 September 1994



Honoree ID: 438   Created by: MHOH

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