MAJOR GENERAL FRED R. NELSON

Major General Fred R. Nelson is commander, Lowry Technical Training Center, Lowry Air Force Base, Colo.

General Nelson was born in 1935, in Jackson, Mich. He attended school in Michigan until entering the Aviation Cadet Program in 1956. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in management from Park College in 1975. The general completed Squadron Officer School in 1964, Air War College in 1975 and the Naval War College in 1978.

He was commissioned and received pilot wings in July 1957. After completing F-86 fighter gunnery training at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., he flew F-100s with the 506th Fighter-Bomber Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., then with the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. In June 1960 General Nelson was assigned as a fighter pilot at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, and in June 1961 transferred to the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. While there he served as a squadron pilot, maintenance officer and quality control flight test officer.

The general returned to the United States in August 1964 as an F-105 pilot with the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. From here he deployed for extended periods to Turkey, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.

In January 1966 General Nelson reported to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as an instructor in the F-105 gunnery school. He returned to Southeast Asia and was assigned to the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. From there he flew 100 combat missions over North Vietnam in the F-105G. In May 1968 he was assigned as standardization evaluation officer with the F-111-equipped 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, Nellis Air Force Base.

From October 1971 to August 1974 he was assigned to Fighter Operations Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He was then transferred to the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, where he flew the F-111F. In February 1976 he became commander of the 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home.

After completing the Naval War College in July 1978, General Nelson was assigned as deputy special assistant for command and control, Headquarters Allied Forces Central Europe, Brunssum, Netherlands. From September 1979 until May 1981 he was commander of the 20th Combat Support Group, Royal Air Force Station Upper Heyford, England. He then became commander of the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing there. In February 1984 the general was assigned to the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., as deputy director for operations. In January 1985 he became deputy director for operations plans and capabilities in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He became deputy chief of staff for air, Headquarters Allied Forces Northern Europe, Oslo, Norway, in June 1987. He assumed his present command in March 1991.

The general is a command pilot with more than 4,700 flying hours. His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal.

He was promoted to major general June 1, 1987, with same date of rank.

(Current as of April 1991)