BRIGADIER GENERAL PETER D. HAYES

Brigadier General Peter D. Hayes is vice commander of the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

General Hayes was born in 1940, in Spokane, Wash., and graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School, Atherton, Calif., in 1958. He earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics from Colorado State University in 1962 and a master of science degree in international affairs from The George Washington University in 1977. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1967, Armed Forces Staff College in 1972, National War College in 1977 and the executive program at the University of California in 1986.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program in June 1962. The general completed pilot training at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas, in August 1963 and was assigned as an F-4 pilot with the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. In March 1964 he transferred to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where he flew F-4s with the 4485th Composite Test Wing and, later, the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing. He completed the Air Force Fighter Weapons Instructor Course at Nellis Air Force Base and returned to the 33rd in December 1967 as a squadron weapons and tactics officer. In September 1968 General Hayes was assigned in the same capacity to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.

In October 1969 the general was selected as an exchange officer with the 43rd Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Leauchars, Scotland. After graduating from the Armed Forces Staff College in August 1972, he became an action officer with the Tactical Forces Division, Directorate of Plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

Upon graduation from National War College in August 1977, he became assistant deputy commander for operations, 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. From September 1978 to September 1979 General Hayes was director of social actions, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va. He then transferred to Nellis Air Force Base as deputy commander for operations, 57th Fighter Weapons Wing. In March 1981 he assumed command of the 405th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

In May 1982 General Hayes returned to Tactical Air Command headquarters as assistant deputy chief of staff and subsequently became deputy chief of staff for personnel. From July 1983 to July 1985 the general was assigned to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, as deputy chief of staff for operations at Headquarters 12th Air Force. He then transferred to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, where he was assistant deputy chief of staff for operations until August 1986, when he became the command's inspector general. In July 1987 he became vice commander of 7th Air Force, headquartered at Osan Air Base, South Korea. He assumed his present position in September 1989.

The general is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours and 191 combat missions in Southeast Asia. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 12 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device, Combat Readiness Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Upon completion of his tour in South Korea he was awarded the Chonsu Medal by the president of the Republic of Korea.

He was promoted to brigadier general July 1, 1987, with same date of rank.

(Current as of February 1990)