BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM R. BROOKSHER

Brigadier General William R. Brooksher is Air Force chief of security police and commander of the Air Force Office of Security Police, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. He manages the employment of more than 40,000 security police deployed throughout the world.

General Brooksher was born in Turkey, Ark., in 1930. He graduated from Yellville-Summit High School, Yellville, Ark., in 1948 and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado in 1958 and his master's degree in business administration from the University of Missouri in 1970. He is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College.

General Brooksher entered the Air Force in January 1950as an enlisted member. He served as an instructor at the clerk typist technical school and as sergeant major in the Department of Administrative and Supply Training at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.

In March 1953 he entered Officer Candidate School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in September 1953. He next attended the Personnel Officer School at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. After completion in January 1954, he was assigned to the 75th Air Installation Squadron, Chinhae Korea, as adjutant. He later assumed command of the unit.

General Brooksher was adjutant for the 6th Weather Squadron (Mobile), Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., from March 1955 until December 1956. For the next 18 months he was a student at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo., in the Air Force Institute of Technology program. He graduated in June 1958 and was assigned as chief of administration for the 2nd Weather Group at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

In April 1959 General Brooksher was transferred to Headquarters Air Weather Service, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and served as chief, non-weather officer assignments, and chief, weather officer assignments.

General Brooksher received his introduction to the Strategic Air Command and missile operations in May 1961. After initial missile training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, he was assigned to the 851st Strategic Missile Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, Calif., as a Titan I missile combat crew commander and later as the senior instructor crew commander.

He attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., from August 1963 to June 1964. After graduation he was assigned to the 451st Strategic Missile Wing, Lowry Air Force Base, Colo., as a command post controller.

General Brooksher returned to the personnel career field in March 1965 for a short tour at Griffiss Air Force Base, N.Y., as director of personnel for the 416th Bombardment Wing.

He was reassigned to the missile field in September 1966 for duty with the 351st Strategic Missile Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. While with the 351st he served as Minuteman missile combat crew commander; instructor crew commander; standardization crew commander; chief, Standardization Division; and assistant deputy commander for operations. In June 1970 General Brooksher became director of operations for the 17th Strategic. Aerospace Division, also at Whiteman Air Force Base.

General Brooksher served as chief, Missile Training Branch, and deputy chief, Missile Training Division, at Headquarters SAC, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., from November 1970 until August 1972. He then entered the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., graduating in June 1973.

General Brooksher next served as vice commander of the 341st Strategic Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., the largest missile wing in SAC. In June 1975 he became commander of the wing. During his tenure as commander, the 341st won the Lee R. Williams Trophy and the Blanchard Trophy, symbolic of the best missile wing in SAC.

In July 1976 he was transferred to Minot Air Force Base, N.D., as commander of the 91st Strategic Missile Wing.

In May 1977 he was assigned as chief of security police, where he supervised the activities of more than 13,000 security police. General Brooksher assumed his present position in October 1978.

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

General Brooksher was promoted to brigadier general June 1, 1978 with same date of rank.

(Current as of October 1979)