William M. Fraser III

General, U.S. Air Force

William M. Fraser III was born on 17 August 1952.

Fraser entered the U.S. Air Force in 1974 as a distinguished graduate of the Texas A&M University AFROTC program. His operational assignments include duty as a T-37 Instructor Pilot and evaluator; B-52 Stratofortress Aircraft Commander, Instructor and evaluator; and Deputy Commander of a B-1 Lancer operations group.

He was the first Commander of the 509th Operations Group, then served as the Vice Wing Commander for the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, MO. He commanded the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, SD, and 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, LA. His staff duties include tours on the Air Staff, Joint Staff and Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff at Offutt AFB, NE. He has also served as Chief of the Nuclear Requirements Cell at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, and Chief of Staff for U.S. Strategic Command.

Fraser has extensive wartime, contingency and humanitarian relief operational experience. While serving as the Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, he orchestrated the deployment and operations of JSTARS in support of Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia, and also provided direct support to Operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq. Additionally, he oversaw the deployment of forces and subsequent withdrawal of 2,444 foreign and U.S. citizens from Liberia during Operation Assured Response. While commanding the 28th Bomb Wing, he conducted the first-ever deployment of B-1s as part of Operation Desert Thunder in Southwest Asia. He later commanded the 2nd Bomb Wing when they deployed B-52s for combat during Operation Noble Anvil and Operation Allied Force. The wing also deployed 300 personnel throughout Southwest Asia in support of Operation Southern Watch. As Deputy Director for Military Support, he led an intelligence fusion organization providing direct support to Operation Enduring Freedom.

On 9 October 2008, Fraser was promoted to the rank of four-star General and selected as Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force. In 2009, he was assigned as Commander, Air Combat Command and Air Component Commander for U.S. Joint Forces Command. On 14 October 2011, General Fraser became Commander, U.S. Transportation Command where he is in charge of managing all global air, land and sea transportation.

Education

1974 Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology, Texas A&M University

1977 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL

1980 Master of Science degree in Management Information systems, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley

1983 Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, VA

1985 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA

1987 National Security Management Course, Syracuse University, NY

1991 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL

1995 Executive Development Program, Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

1999 Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, AL

1999 Senior Information Warfare Applications Course, Maxwell AFB, AL

2000 National Security Leadership Course, National Security Studies, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, NY

2002 Executive Program for Russian and U.S. General Officers, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.

2002 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Maxwell AFB, AL

2002 Senior Intelligence Fellows Program

2003 Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

2005 Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, CO

Assignments

1. November 1974 - October 1975, student, undergraduate pilot training, Williams AFB, AZ.

2. October 1975 - March 1976, student, Instructor Pilot training, Randolph AFB, TX.
3. March 1976 - February 1978, T-37 Instructor Pilot and T-37 Check Pilot, 96th Flying Training Squadron, Williams AFB, AZ.
4. March 1978 - March 1980, T-37 Instructor Pilot and flight examiner, 82nd Flying Training Wing, Williams AFB, AZ.
5. March 1980 - October 1980, Operational Support Aircraft Program Element Monitor, Air Staff Training Program, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.
6. October 1980 - April 1981, Worldwide Military Command, Control and Communications Program Element Monitor, Air Staff Training Program, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington.
7. May 1981 - October 1981, B-52H student, 4017th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Castle AFB, CA.
8. October 1981 - March 1983, B-52H Aircraft Commander, later B-52G Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot, 46th Bomb Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, ND.
9. March 1983 - December 1984, Chief, B-52G Standardization and Evaluation Branch, 319th Bomb Wing, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
10. January 1985 - June 1985, student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA.
11. June 1985 - March 1986, Chief, European Single Integrated Operational Plan Tactics, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, Offutt AFB, NE.
12. April 1986 - October 1987, Executive Officer to the Strategic Air Command Chief of Staff, Headquarters SAC, Offutt AFB, NE.
13. October 1987 - July 1990, Chief, Nuclear Requirements Cell, SHAPE, Mons, Belgium.

14. July 1990 - July 1991, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
15. July 1991 - July 1993, Deputy Commander, 384th Operations Group, McConnell AFB, KS.
16. July 1993 - January 1995, Commander, 509th Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, MO.
17. January 1995 - August 1995, Vice Commander, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO.
18. August 1995 - January 1997, Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, SHAPE, Mons, Belgium.
19. February 1997 - May 1998, Commander, 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, SD.
20. May 1998 - May 1999, Chief of Staff, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE.
21. May 1999 - December 2000, Commander, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, LA.
22. December 2000 - December 2002, Deputy Director for National Systems Operations, the Joint Staff; Director, Defense Space Reconnaissance Program; and Deputy Director for Military Support, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington.
23. January 2003 - October 2004, Director of Operations, Headquarters AETC, Randolph AFB, TX.
24. November 2004 - February 2005, Special Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center, Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighting Integration, Langley AFB, VA.
25. February 2005 - May 2006, Vice Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, VA.
26. May 2006 - October 2008, Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington.
27. October 2008 - September 2009, Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington.
28. September 2009 - present, Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, VA., and Air Component Commander for U.S. Joint Forces Command.

Summary of Joint Assignments

1. June 1985 - March 1986, Chief, European Single Integrated Operational Plan Tactics, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, Offutt AFB, NE, as a Major.
2. October 1987 - July 1990, Chief, Nuclear Requirements Cell, SHAPE, Mons, Belgium, as a Lieutenant Colonel.
3. August 1995 - January 1997, Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, SHAPE, Mons, Belgium, as a Colonel.
4. May 1998 - May 1999, Chief of Staff, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE, as a Colonel.
5. December 2000 - December 2002, Deputy Director for National Systems Operations, the Joint Staff; Director, Defense Space Reconnaissance Program; and Deputy Director for Military Support, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington, DC, as a Brigadier General.
6. May 2006 - October 2008, Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC, as a Lieutenant General. 
 

Promotion Dates

Second Lieutenant - 8 November 1974
First Lieutenant - 8 November 1976
Captain - 8 November 1978
Major - 1 October 1983
Lieutenant Colonel - 1 June 1988
Colonel - 1 January 1992
Brigadier General - 1 January 2000
Major General - 1 October 2003
Lieutenant General - 3 February 2005
General - 8 October 2008

Flight Information

Rating: Command Pilot

Flight hours: Over 4,000

Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, T-1, KC-135R, B-1B, B-2A, B-52G/H and C-21

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (2 Awards)
Defense Superior Service Medal (3 Awards)
Legion of Merit (3 Awards)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards)
Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards)
Air Force Commendation Medal (2 Awards)
Air Force Achievement Medal 
Secretary's Distinguished Service Award, Department of State
National Intelligence Medal of Achievement
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

Badges

Command Pilot Badge
Master Space and Missileman Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Honors

Officer Training Award, Undergraduate Pilot Training
Top graduate, T-37 Pilot Instructor Training
T-37 Instructor Pilot of the Year
Distinguished Graduate, B-52 G/H Combat Crew Training
Air Force Public Affairs Directors Special Achievement Award for Commander Support
Joseph A. Moller Award, Outstanding Wing Commander, ACC
Gold Medal, National Reconnaissance Office