BRIGADIER GENERAL LAWRENCE E. HUGGINS

Brigadier General Lawrence E. Huggins is commander of the 316th Air Division and the Kaiserslautern Military Community, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany.

General Huggins was born in 1938, in Galesburg, Ill., and graduated from Chillicothe (Ill.) High School. He received a bachelor of science degree from Bradley University in 1960 and a master of science degree in management engineering from The George Washington University in 1974. The general graduated from Squadron Officer School in 1964, Air Command and Staff College in 1972, Air War College in 1980 and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1977.

The general was commissioned and entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program in August 1960. He was a student pilot at Moore Air Force Base, Texas, through December 1960 and continued his pilot training with the 3501st Pilot Training Squadron at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, where he received his pilot wings upon graduation in September 1961. After completing the basic pilot instructor course at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in December 1961, he returned to 3501st Pilot Training Squadron, Reese Air Force Base, as an instructor pilot.

General Huggins transferred to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in March 1966 and received F-105 conversion training. He served as an F-105 pilot with the 35th and 80th Tactical Fighter Squadrons at Yokota Air Base, Japan, from August 1966 to January 1968. He returned to Nellis Air Force Base for F-105 Wild Weasel training and, upon completion, was assigned to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, flying F-105 Wild Weasels with the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Returning to the United States in January 1969, he served as the fighter staff officer in the Operations Division, 12th Air Force, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas.

After graduating from Air Command and Staff College in June 1972, General Huggins was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., as an inspector general operations evaluator. In August 1976 he was assigned as operations officer with the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, Korea. Arriving a year later at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., the general became commander of the 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron under the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing.

Upon completing Air War College in June 1980, he was assigned as chief of the Fighter Division, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Studies and Analyses, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. General Huggins returned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in May 1982 as commander of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing. In June 1984 he became the assistant chief of staff for requirements, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base. In July 1985 he transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, as the inspector general. He assumed his present command in July 1986.

The general is a command pilot with more than 4,800 flying hours in T-33s, T-37s, T-38s, F-105s, F-4s and F-16s. He flew 103 combat missions in F-105D's and F-105F's while serving in Southeast Asia. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with "V" device and oak leaf cluster, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

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

(Current as of December 1986)