MAJOR GENERAL BERNARD L. WEISS

Major General Bernard L. Weiss is commander of the Air Force Contract Management Division, Air Force Systems Command, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. He is responsible for the administration of major weapon systems acquisition contracts performed by aerospace contractors located throughout the United States.

General Weiss was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and later moved to Fairlawn, N.J., where he completed high school in 1951. He graduated from New York University in 1955 with a bachelor of science degree in government and education (cum laude) and received his commission as a distinguished military graduate through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. General Weiss earned his master of business administration degree (with honors) from Syracuse University in 1966 through the Air Force Institute of Technology. His service schools include Squadron Officer School by correspondence; the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1974; and the Advanced Management Program,University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1978.

He entered the U.S. Air Force in May 1956 and served at the New York Air Procurement District, New York City, as administrative contracting officer. In December 1958 the general transferred to the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Station Wethersfield, England, as base procurement officer. He served there until October 1960 when he was assigned to Headquarters Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colo., as chief of the Systems Management Division. He was responsible for the procurement and administration of operations and maintenance contracts supporting the Distant Early Warning line, Ballistic Missile Early Warning System and Spacetrack stations. General Weiss worked closely with Canadian and Danish government officials in this mission support area.

After completing his master's degree in February 1966, General Weiss was assigned to the Defense Contract Administration Services Region, Los Angeles, as manufacturing officer and plant office chief at Garrett Air Research Corporation. He was later assigned as chief of the Contract Administration Directorate for the region headquarters.

From June 1969 to July 1971, General Weiss was assigned as a logistics plans action officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Systems and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He then became a procurement staff officer in the Directorate of Procurement Policy. The general was responsible for contract policy formation and implementation for major weapon systems, such as the A-10 and F-15. He also led a major command group to improve the reliability and maintainability of Air Force hardware in the field.

Following graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in June 1974, he transferred to the Armament Division at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., as the deputy for contracting and manufacturing.

From July 1976 to June 1978, the general served as assistant for procurement management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Research, Development and Logistics, Washington, D.C. He then moved to the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as deputy for contracting and manufacturing of the largest contracting activity in the United States. While there General Weiss led a major study effort to review the quality assurances practices of countries around the world. The study, called "Quality Horizons," was published in November 1979 and acted as an impetus for improving product quality in the United States.

In February 1981 the general was assigned as deputy chief of staff for contracting and manufacturing, Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Md. While there he was responsible for the acquisition of major weapon systems and contracting support for the command's laboratories, test centers and ranges. The general led major initiatives for enhancing the productivity of the aerospace industry through effective use of manufacturing technology seed money and the modernization of aerospace factory operations through the technology modernization program.

Transferring to Air Force headquarters in January 1983, General Weiss served as director of contracting and manufacturing policy, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition. While there he was responsible for developing contracting and manufacturing policy relating to major weapon systems acquisition, logistics support and base support for the Air Force. He assumed his present duties in July 1985.

His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon.

General Weiss is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager of the National Contract Management Association. He also serves on the board of advisers of the National Contract Management Association and was elected a fellow of the same association based upon his contributions to professionalism of the contracting and manufacturing community. The general is also a member of the board of regents of the Institute of Cost Analysis.

He was promoted to major general Apri1, 1985, with date of rank March 1, 1981.

(Current as of February 1986)