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First Name: Donald

Last Name: Cook

Birthplace:

Gender: Male

Branch: Air Force (1947 - present)



Middle Name: G.



Date of Birth:



Rank: General

Years Served: 1969-2005
Donald G. Cook

   
Biography:

Donald G. Cook

General, U.S. Air Force

Donald G. Cook entered the Air Force in 1969 through the AFROTC program at Michigan State University. He completed undergraduate pilot training at Williams AFB, AZ. He has commanded a flying training wing, two space wings and the 20th Air Force. He has served as Legislative Liaison in the Senate Liaison Office, on the staff of the House Armed Services Committee, and as Director for Expeditionary Aerospace Force Implementation at U.S. Air Force headquarters.

In June 2000, he became Vice Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, VA.

On 17 December 2001, Cook was promoted to the rank of four-star General and assigned as Commander, Air Education and Training Command (COMAETC), Randolph AFB, TX.

General Cook retired from the Air Force on 1 August 2005. During his service, he became a Command Pilot and has flown over 3,300 hours in B-52D/G/H, T-37B and T-38A aircraft.

Education

1969 Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Arts, Michigan State University

1975 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL

1976 Master's degree in Business Administration, Southern Illinois University

1982 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA

1987 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL

1996 National Security Leadership Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, and School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Assignments

December 1969 - December 1970, student, undergraduate pilot training, Williams AFB, AZ.

January 1971 - April 1972, T-37 Instructor Pilot, Webb AFB, TX.

April 1972 - March 1974, T-37 Instructor Pilot, Moody AFB, GA.

March 1974 - June 1974, B-52 training, Castle AFB, CA.

June 1974 - June 1978, Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot, 2nd Bomb Squadron, later, Chief of Mission Development and Chief of Training Flight, 22nd Bomb Wing, March AFB, CA.

June 1978 - August 1981, Resource Manager, Chief, Special Actions Division, and Assistant for Colonel Assignments, Headquarters Air Force Military Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, TX.

January 1982 - March 1984, Chief, Program Evaluation Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, NE.

October 1984 - June 1986, Commander, 325th Bomb Squadron, Fairchild AFB, WA.

July 1986 - June 1987, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL.

August 1987 - November 1987, Chief, Special Activities Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force Programs and Resources, Washington, DC.

November 1987 - November 1988, Air Force Representative to the House Armed Services Committee, Washington.

November 1988 - July 1989, Deputy Commander for Operations, 7th Bombardment Wing, Carswell AFB, TX.

July 1989 - June 1990, Vice Commander, 7th Bombardment Wing, Carswell AFB, TX.

June 1990 - July 1991, Commander, 3415th Air Base Group, Lowry AFB, CO.

July 1991 - July 1992, Commander, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, TX

August 1992 - August 1993, Chief, Senate Liaison Office, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Legislative Liaison, Washington.

August 1993 - January 1995, Commander, 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, CO.

January 1995 - August 1995, Commander, 45th Space Wing, Patrick AFB, FL.

August 1995 - June 1996, Director of Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO.

June 1996 - September 1998, Commander, 20th Air Force, Francis E. Warren AFB, WY.

September 1998 - July 1999, Director for Expeditionary Aerospace Force Implementation, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.

July 1999 - June 2000, Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO.

June 2000 - December 2001, Vice Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, VA.

December 2001 - 2005, Commander, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, TX.

Promotion Dates

Second Lieutenant - 26 November 1969

First Lieutenant - 26 May 1971

Captain - 26 November 1972

Major - 1 July 1981

Lieutenant Colonel - 1 March 1984

Colonel - 1 July 1988

Brigadier General - 1 August 1993

Major General - 1 September 1996

Lieutenant General - 6 October 1999

General - 17 December 2001

Medals and Awards

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

Legion of Merit (2 Awards)

Meritorious Service Medal (4 Awards)

Air Force Commendation Medal (2 Awards)

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

Combat Readiness Medal

National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star

Badges

Command Pilot Badge
Master Space and Missileman Badge

In Retirement

After retirement, Cook was elect to the Board of Directors of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, Crane Corporation, HawkerBeechcraft Corporation and USAA Federal Savings Bank.



Honoree ID: 696   Created by: MHOH

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