BRIGADIER GENERAL JERRY W. TIETGE

Brigadier General Jerry W. Tietge is director of electronic combat, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

General Tietge was born in 1932, in Ravina, S.D., and graduated from Brookings (S.D.) High School in 1949. He received a bachelor of science degree in social sciences from the American Technological University, Killeen, Texas, in 1975. The general graduated from Squadron Officer School in 1960 and Air Command and Staff College in 1964; both schools are located at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

After enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in March 1952 and, following basic training, he was accepted into the aviation cadet program for pilot training. General Tietge received his commission in September 1953 and pilot wings in October 1953. The general then attended fighter gunnery training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., from October 1953 to February 1954. He was assigned to the 58th Fighter-Bomber Group at Taegu Air Base, South Korea, from March 1954 until February 1955. From March 1955 to June 1957, he was assigned to Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., as an instructor pilot in F-86F's.

From June 1957 to August 1959, he was assigned as aide-de-camp to the commander, Allied Air Forces Northern Europe, Oslo, Norway. He then transferred to the 3205th Drone Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and in July 1960 was assigned to the Squadron Officer School faculty and remained there until August 1964.

The general returned to Luke Air Force Base for upgrade training in F-100s and in March 1965 joined the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. Following four months temporary duty at Misawa Air Base, Japan, he was assigned to the 4514th Combat Crew Training Squadron at Luke Air Force Base as a flight commander until November 1966. He then transferred to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Homestead Air Force Base, Fla.

In December 1966 the wing deployed to Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, where General Tietge served until January 1968. While there he flew 325 combat missions in F-100D's. His next assignment was to U.S. Air Forces in Europe headquarters at Lindsey Air Station, Germany, from February 1968 until June 1972. During this time he served as an operations staff officer and chief of the Nuclear Planning Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations.

From July 1972 to May 1975, he served at Headquarters 12th Air Force at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, as chief of the Exercise Division in the operational plans deputate; and later as chief of the Inspection Division, Office of the Inspector General. He was then assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, as deputy commander for operations of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. He became vice commander of the wing in June 1976.

General Tietge moved to Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath, England, in March 1977 as part of Operation Ready Switch-Creek Swing, the project to re-equip the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing with swing-wing F-111F tactical fighter-bombers. He served as vice commander of the 48th, from March 1977 until March 1978, when he was assigned to Royal Air Force Station Upper Heyford as commander of the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing. He took command of the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and the Kaiserslautern military community in February 1980.

Returning to the United States in July 1981, General Tietge was assigned to Air Force headquarters as deputy director of operations. He assumed his present duties in August 1982.

The general is a command pilot and has 5,000 flying hours in 12 different aircraft. His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.

He was promoted to brigadier general July 1, 1980, with date of rank June 12, 1980.

(Current as of September 1982)