BRIGADIER GENERAL DONALD C. METZ

Brigadier General Donald C. Metz is director of the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.

General Metz was born in 1937, in Sandpoint, Idaho, and graduated from Vancouver (Wash.) High School in 1955. He earned a bachelor of science degree in sociology from the University of Oregon, Eugene, in 1959, and a master of business administration degree from Auburn (Ala.) University in 1969. The general graduated from Squadron Officer School in 1964 and Air Command and Staff College in 1969, both at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1974. General Metz is a 1984 graduate of the Harvard University Executive Program in National and International Security.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program in June 1959. Upon completing primary and basic navigation training, the general was awarded his wings at James Connally Air Force Base, Texas, in August 1960. After navigator-bombardier training at Mather Air Force Base, Calif., in April 1961, General Metz was assigned to the 85th Air Transport Squadron, 1501st Air Transport Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., flying C-124s on worldwide missions. In October 1962, while at Travis, General Metz was assigned to the 1501st Air Base Group as a navigator school instructor and C-130 instructor navigator.

After completing Squadron Officer School in August 1964, he joined the 50th Military Airlift Squadron, 61st Military Airlift Wing, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, serving as a C-124 instructor and flight examiner navigator before becoming the squadron standardization navigator in September 1966. In April 1967 the general was named chief of the Humanitarian Reassignment Branch, Directorate of Assignments, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel at Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Force Base, I11. He became chief of the Assignment Policy and Procedures Branch within the same directorate in December 1967.

Following completion of Air Command and Staff College in June 1969, he entered aircrew training at Sewart Air Force Base, Tenn. General Metz then joined the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he served as a C-130 navigator and squadron executive officer.

Returning to the United States in October 1970, General Metz was assigned to the Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, as a personnel resource analyst. From June 1971 to March 1973, he served as chief of the Plans and Programs Division, under the assistant for plans, programs and organizational requirements and then became deputy assistant for plans, programs and organizational requirements.

Upon graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in July 1975, the general served as chief, Force Structures Plans Branch, Plans Division, Directorate of Personnel Plans at Air Force headquarters. He became chief of the Plans Division in March 1977. General Metz returned to Randolph Air Force Base in July 1980 as Air Training Command's assistant deputy chief of staff for personnel and in January 1981 he moved up as deputy chief of staff for personnel. In October 1983 he was assigned as the deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He assumed his present duties in July 1985.

The general is a master navigator with more than 4,600 flying hours, including 33 missions and 435 combat hours over Laos. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

He was promoted to brigadier general Aug. 1, 1983, with same date of rank.

(Current as of February 1986)