BRIGADIER GENERAL ANTONIO MALDONADO Brigadier General Antonio Maldonado is chief, U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation, Madrid, Spain. He is the senior Department of Defense representative to Spain, responsible for providing overall direction to U.S. elements in Spain on status of forces, security assistance programs and other defense and base agreement matters. General Maldonado was born in 1941, in Comerio, Puerto Rico, and graduated from Central High School, San Juan, Puerto Rico, in May 1960. He received a bachelor of arts degree in business from the University of Puerto Rico in May 1964 and a master of business administration degree from the Inter-American University in May 1969. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1970, Army Command and General Staff College in 1977, Air War College in 1982 and the Senior Executive Development program at the University of New Hampshire in 1987. In July 1964 the general was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program as the distinguished graduate of the University of Puerto Rico class of 1964. After completing undergraduate pilot training at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., in August 1965, he was assigned as a B-52 pilot with the 34th Bombardment Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. From May 1967 to May 1970 he served as a B-52 aircraft commander at Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico. He then was assigned to the 67th Tactical Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, where he trained as an RF-4C pilot. In January 1971 General Maldonado transferred to the 432nd Tactical Fighter Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he engaged in combat air operations over Southeast Asia. From January to December 1971 he flew 183 combat missions over North and South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, logging nearly 400 combat flying hours. Upon returning to the United States, General Maldonado was assigned to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, as an RF-4C pilot. In December 1972 he was selected for special assignment to the U.S. Southern Command, Albrook Air Force Base, Canal Zone, where he served as an international politico-military affairs officer. General Maldonado attended the Army Command and Staff College from July 1976 to July 1977. He then was assigned to the 42nd Bombardment Wing, Loring Air Force Base, Maine, as a B-52 aircraft commander and later became chief of the Command Control Division. In May 1979 he assumed command of the 28th Bombardment Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. He became assistant deputy commander for operations, 19th Bombardment Wing, at Robins in July 1980. From July 1981 to May 1982 the general attended Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., graduating as a distinguished graduate. The general then was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as chief, Western Hemisphere Division, Office of the Deputy Director for Plans and Policy. In June 1983 he became chief, Strategic Offensive Forces Division, Directorate of Plans, at Air Force headquarters. In April 1984 General Maldonado transferred to K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Mich., where he assumed duties as deputy commander for operations, 410th Bombardment Wing. He became vice commander of the wing in September 1984 and commander in July 1985. While commanding the 410th, General Maldonado won numerous awards including the Coveted Omaha Trophy (best wing in SAC) and the 390th Bombardment Group Memorial Trophy (best wing commander). The general transferred to Washington, D.C., in May 1987 and served as chief, Strategic Operations Division, Operations Directorate, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon. In June 1988 he became deputy director for operations, National Military Command Center, the Pentagon. He assumed his present duties in July 1989. The general is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal. He was promoted to brigadier general Sept. 1, 1988, with same date of rank. (Current as of July 1989)