BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT A. FOSTER

Brigadier General Robert A. Foster is deputy for surveillance and navigation systems, Electronic Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.

General Foster was born in Charlotte, N.C., in 1929. He graduated from Leon High School, Tallahassee, Fla., in 1947; the Junior College of Marion Institute, Marion, Ala., in 1949; and from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., in 1953 with a bachelor of science degree and commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He received a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1956, and graduated from the Air Command and Staff College in 1962, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1971.

Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1953, General Foster was assigned to Warner Robins Air Materiel Area, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and served in the Directorate of Maintenance as project officer in the Quality Analysis Division.

In August 1956 General Foster was assigned to the Western Development Division of the Air Research and Development Command at Inglewood, Calif., and served at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., as project officer for the X-17 flight test program at Cape Canaveral. From 1959 to 1961, he was project officer for the Titan intercontinental ballistic missile program for launch operations at Patrick Air Force Base. He entered Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in September 1961.

General Foster was transferred in July 1962 to Space Systems Division, Los Angeles Air Force Station, Calif., where he managed the testing of several special access programs. In July 1967 he was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., where he served for three years in the Defense Systems Division of the Directorate of Operational Requirements and Development Plans. He entered the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., in August 1970.

In July 1971 General Foster was assigned to Headquarters Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Md., as director of strategic systems planning in the Office of the Deputy for Development Plans. He was transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in July 1972, as assistant deputy for reconnaissance/strike/electronic warfare for the Aeronautical Systems Division and became deputy in March 1974.

General Foster was named deputy for advanced airborne command post, Electronic Systems Division, AFSC, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., in April 1975. He assumed his present position in August 1977.

His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.

He was promoted to the grade of brigadier general July 1, 1974, with date of rank June 18, 1974.

(Current as of November 1977)