William J. Begert

General, U.S. Air Force

William J. Begert was born on 9 June 1946 in Lewiston, ME.

Begert graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1968 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He served as an instructor and evaluator pilot in C-141, O-2 and C-5 aircraft early in his career.

During the Vietnam War, he was assigned as a Forward Air Controller at Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, where he flew more than 300 combat missions over Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. He has over 875 combat hours. In earlier assignments, Begert commanded a flying squadron and two Air Force wings. He was Chief of the Mobility Forces Division on the Air Staff. At Scott AFB, IL, he served as Chief of Staff as well as Director of Operations and Logistics for Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, and as Inspector General for Headquarters Air Mobility Command.

Begert was the first Commander of the U.S. Air Force's Air Mobility Warfare Center at McGuire AFB, NJ. He also served as the Vice Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe during the air war over Serbia and as the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff for Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.

On 1 May 2001, Begert was promoted to the rank of four-star General and assigned as Commander, Pacific Air Forces (COMPACAF).

General Begert retired from the Air Force on 1 August 2004. During his service, he became a Command Pilot with over 6,900 flight hours in the following aircraft: C-5, C-21, C-37, C-40, C-130, C-141, KC-10, KC-135, O-2A, T-37, T-38 and T-41. He was also a parachutist.

Education

1968 Bachelor of Science degree, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO

1974 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL

1980 Master's degree in Public Administration, University of Colorado

1981 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL

1985 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC

1990 Management Program for Executives, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh

1995 Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Assignments

August 1968 - August 1969, student, undergraduate pilot training, Randolph AFB, TX.

September 1969 - March 1971, C-141 pilot and Aircraft Commander, 20th Military Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, DE.

April 1971 - September 1971, French language student, Defense Language Institute, Washington, DC.

October 1971 - December 1971, combat crew training, Hurlburt Field, FL.

January 1972 - January 1973, O-2A forward air controller and flight examiner pilot, 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam.

February 1973 - June 1977, C-5 pilot and flight examiner, 9th Military Airlift Squadron, 436th Military Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, DE.

July 1977 - June 1978, Military Studies Instructor, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO.

July 1978 - July 1980, Air Officer Commanding, Cadet Squadron 20, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO.

August 1980 - June 1981, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.

July 1981 - December 1982, C-5 Aircraft Commander and Wing Executive Officer, 436th Military Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, DE.

January 1983 - July 1984, Squadron Commander, 3rd Military Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, DE.

August 1984 - May 1985, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington.

June 1985 - May 1986, Mobility Forces Programmer, Directorate of Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington.

June 1986 - April 1987, Deputy Chief, Mobility Forces Division, Directorate of Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington.

May 1987 - January 1988, Chief, Mobility Forces Division and Chairman, Mobility Panel, Directorate of Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington.

February 1988 - August 1989, Vice Commander, 436th Military Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, DE.

September 1989 - May 1990, Commander, 436th Military Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, DE.

June 1990 - June 1991, Commander, 60th Military Airlift Wing, Travis AFB, CA.

July 1991 - November 1992, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, IL.

December 1992 - July 1994, Inspector General, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL.

July 1994 - March 1995, Commander, U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Warfare Center, Air Mobility Command, McGuire AFB, NJ.

March 1995 - August 1997, Director of Operations and Logistics, J3 and J4, Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, IL.

August 1997 - August 1999, Vice Commander, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

August 1999 - May 2001, Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington.

May 2001 - August 2004, Commander, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Component Commander for the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command, Hickam AFB, HI.

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

Defense Superior Service Medal

Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster

Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters

Badges

Command Pilot Badge
Parachutist Badge

In Retirement

In 2005, Begert was named Vice President for Military International Programs & Business Development with Pratt & Whitney, Military Engines.

Personal

He is married to the former Joanne Feeley of Palos Park, IL. The Begerts have a son, Bill; a daughter, Kary; and two grandchildren.