MAJOR GENERAL BILLY G. MCCOY Major General Billy G. McCoy is commander, Lackland Training Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. A major component of the Air Training Command, the center is responsible for conducting basic military training for all enlisted people entering the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard; commissioning second lieutenants through officer training; providing technical training in nearly 100 courses; and English language training to foreign military personnel. General McCoy was born in 1940, in Texarkana, Texas. He earned a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from Texas A&M University in 1963 and a master's degree in business from Auburn University in 1975. The general completed Squadron Officer School in 1967, Air Command and Staff College in 1975, Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1976 and the Army War College in 1981. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program in August 1963. In July 1965, after completing navigator training at James T. Connally Air Force Base, Texas, and Mather Air Force Base, Calif., he was assigned as a B-52 navigator with the 2nd Bombardment Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. The general entered pilot training at Webb Air Force Base, Texas, in August 1967 and, upon graduation in September 1968, received his pilot's wings. He then was assigned as an F-4E aircraft commander with the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Force Base, Fla. In March 1971 he was transferred to the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, where he flew 223 combat missions in the F-4 with the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He returned to the United States in March 1972 and was assigned to Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., as an instructor pilot in the German F-104 fighter training program. In July 1974 General McCoy entered Air Command and Staff College and, upon graduation in July 1975, was assigned to Fifth Allied Tactical Air Force, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as chief of the Tactical Evaluation Division, Vicenza, Italy. In June 1978 he was transferred to Royal Air Force Station Bentwaters, England, as commander of the 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron, and later the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing's assistant deputy commander for maintenance. The general attended the Army War College from June 1980 to July 1981 and then was assigned as division chief, Directorate of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. In June 1983 he was assigned to Moody Air Force Base, Ga., as vice commander of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing. He assumed command of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Force Base, in June 1984. From May 1985 to July 1986 he commanded the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, Langley Air Force Base, Va. He then became commander of Tactical Air Command's 832nd Air Division, Luke Air Force Base. In July 1987 he was assigned as deputy chief of staff for operations of NATO's Second Allied Tactical Air Force, Rheindahlen, West Germany. He returned to the United States in July 1989 as commander of the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. He assumed his current command in May 1992. The general is a command pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours in the A-10, F-4, F-15, F-16 and F-104, including 424 combat hours in the F-4. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was promoted to major general Oct. 1, 1989, with same date of rank. (Current as of October 1992)