BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD C. MILNES II

Brigadier General Richard C. Milnes II is director of the Inter-American Defense College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

General Milnes was born in 1938, in Decatur, Ill., and graduated from high school in Winter Park, Fla., in 1956. He earned a bachelor of science degree in 1961 and a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Colorado in 1969. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1966, Armed Forces Staff College in 1971, Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1974 and the Air War College in 1978.

He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a seaman from June 1956 until 1957, when he entered the U.S. Air Force Academy. Upon graduation from the academy in June 1961, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. The general completed pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., and received his pilot wings in August 1962. He then attended KC-135 combat crew training at Castle Air Force Base, Calif., and was assigned to the 456th Strategic Aerospace Wing, Beale Air Force Base, Calif. During this tour of duty, he served in the 903rd Air Refueling Squadron and the wing Standardization Division.

In September 1967 he entered the University of Colorado through the Air Force Institute of Technology program and upon graduation was assigned to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, for upgrade training in the C-7A Caribou. From December 1969 to January 1971 he served in the Republic of Vietnam, first with the 317th Tactical Airlift Squadron as a pilot and instructor pilot at Phu Cat Air Base, and later with the 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing, Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, as a flight evaluator. During this tour of duty, the general flew more than 100 combat missions and accumulated more than 750 combat hours.

General Milnes returned to the United States and attended the Armed Forces Staff College, graduating in June 1971. He then was assigned as a staff development officer at Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He was responsible for engineering management of the Air Force's attack, fighter and trainer aircraft programs.

From August 1974 to August 1977 the general served with the 2nd Bombardment Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., as operations officer for the 913th and 71st Air Refueling squadrons, and later, as commander of the 913th.

General Milnes completed Air War College in July 1978 and was assigned to the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., as the representative to the Comprehensive Test Ban negotiations. In this capacity he developed, analyzed and defended positions of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during high-level interagency meetings and National Security Council deliberations. He served on the U.S. delegation in Geneva during the trilateral United States-United Kingdom-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics test ban negotiations.

In December 1980 the general transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as chief, Long Range Plans Division, Directorate of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations. He was responsible for frequent dialogues with the chief of staff and secretary of the Air Force on long-range planning issues. He was assigned as the assistant deputy director of plans for doctrine, strategy and plans integration in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, in July 1981.

General Milnes served as vice commander of the 62nd Military Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., from July 1982 until June 1983, when he assumed command of the 443rd Military Airlift Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Okla. In January 1985 he became special assistant for mission effectiveness to the commander in chief of the Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The general was assigned as vice commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., in November 1986. He assumed his present duties in April 1989.

The general is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours in T-37s, T-33s, KC-135s, B-52s, U-3s, C-118s, C-7s, C-130s, C-141s and C-5A's. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

He was promoted to brigadier general Aug. 1, 1985, with same date of rank.

(Current as of May 1989)