BRIGADIER GENERAL MICHAEL E. DEARMOND

Brigadier General Michael E. DeArmond is commander, Defense Contract Administration Services Region, Defense Supply Agency, with headquarters in Los Angeles, Calif.

General DeArmond was born at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in 1928. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1950 with a bachelor of science degree in engineering and a commission in the U.S. Air Force. He received a master of science degree in business administration from The George Washington University, 1968, and is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, 1961, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, 1968.

General DeArmond received his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., in August 1951, and after completion of combat crew training in November 1951 went to Korea where he served as a jet fighter pilot with the 335th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter Group. On his 47th combat mission he was shot down by a Mig 15 aircraft and spent seventeen months in a Chinese prisoner-of-war camp.

After his return to the United States, General DeArmond was assigned as a pilot to the 95th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (Air Defense Command) at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., where he served from December 1953 to February 1956. During this period, he attended Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. In February 1956 he was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy as chief of the Intramural Division in the Department of Athletics.

In October 1957 General DeArmond was transferred to Vance Air Force Base, Okla., and served as a T-33 instructor pilot until September 1960 when he left to enter Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. In November 1961 he was assigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, at Laon Air Base, France, where he served as operations officer for the 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and as director of Tactical Operations for the wing.

In November 1964 General DeArmond joined the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., where he served in the Directorate of Studies and Analysis. In August 1967 he entered the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. After graduation in September 1968, General DeArmond left for Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and attended F-100 combat crew training.

In March 1969 General DeArmond reported to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, where he served as commander of the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron and later as assistant deputy commander for operations.

Upon completion of his combat tour of duty, he went to Germany where he was assigned to the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing at Bitburg Air Base as deputy commander for operations. In October 1971 General DeArmond participated in the activation of the 52d Tactical Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base as vice commander. He then moved to Lindsey Air Station, in April 1972, where he served as director of safety for U.S. Air Forces in Europe. In January 1973 he became commander of the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hahn Air Base.

General DeArmond returned to the United States to assume command of the Defense Contract Administration Services Region, Defense Supply Agency, Los Angeles, Calif., in August 1974.

His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with oak leaf cluster, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm. He is a command pilot with 4,500 hours flying time in the F-80, T-33, T-39, F-86, F-100, RF-101, and F-4. He has a total of 268 combat missions in the Korean War and Southeast Asia conflict.

His hometown is Sarasota, Fla.

He was promoted to the grade of brigadier general effective Sept. 1, 1974, with date of rank Aug. 15, 1974.

(Current as of Feb. 15, 1975)