BRIGADIER GENERAL JOSEPH C. WILSON JR.

Brigadier General Joseph C. Wilson Jr. is commander, 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

General Wilson was born in 1943, in Lexington, Ky., and graduated from Beavercreek High School, Dayton, Ohio, in 1961. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Miami University in 1965 and a master of science degree in personnel management from Troy State University in 1986. The general completed Air War College in 1986 and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Foreign Policy Seminar in 1990.

He entered active duty and was commissioned through Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in June 1966. He completed pilot training and earned wings at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, in August 1967. General Wilson was assigned to the 416th Bombardment Wing, Griffiss Air Force Base, N.Y., where he advanced to instructor pilot and chief of the wing's B-52 Standardization and Evaluation Division. He performed three tours in B-52 Arc Light operations in Southeast Asia, logging 125 combat sorties and more than 800 combat hours.

In November 1973 General Wilson was assigned to Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. He performed duties in several areas within the Directorate of Command Control and then was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans. He served first in the Directorate of Analyses, then in the Directorate of Aeronautical Requirements, initially as program manager for the B-52 and then the B-1A.

In June 1977 the general was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He served first in the Strategic Forces Division of the Directorate of Plans, and then became a charter member of the directorate's Long-Range Planning Division, a result of having served on the secretary of the Air Force's long-range planning team in 1979.

General Wilson was assigned to the 328th Bombardment Squadron, Castle Air Force Base, Calif., in July 1981. After requalification in the B-52, he served as squadron operations officer until July 1982, when he became commander of the 23rd Bombardment Squadron, Minot Air Force Base, N.D. In July 1983 he returned to SAC headquarters as chief of the Evaluation Division, Directorate of Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, then became deputy director of programs. From June 1984 until July 1985 he was executive officer to the commander in chief, SAC, and director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff.

Upon graduation from Air War College in June 1986, the general was assigned as vice commander of the 93rd Bombardment Wing, Castle Air Force Base. He assumed command in February 1987. In October 1988 he became chief of the Strategic Operations Division within the Joint Staff Directorate of Operations, Washington, D.C., and in October 1990 he was assigned as the Joint Chiefs of Staff representative for the U.S.-USSR Defense and Space Talks. He became the Joint Chiefs of Staff representative to the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., in August 1991. In January 1992 he was assigned as commander of the 28th Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base. He assumed his present command in July 1992.

The general is a command pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours. His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.

He was promoted to brigadier general Feb. 1, 1991, with same date of rank.

(Current as of August 1992)