MAJOR GENERAL LESLIE W. BRAY JR.

Maj. Gen. Leslie William Bray Jr., is director of doctrine, concepts, and objectives, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

The directorate is responsible for evaluation and formulation of basic doctrine, development of long-range concepts and objectives, and preparation of the Air Force for reasoned change required to improve its effectiveness in meeting national security objectives. He also is performing additional duty as the special assistant to the deputy chief of staff for plans and operations on Vietnamization.

General Bray was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1921; graduated from Sunset High School, Dallas, Texas, in 1938; and attended Arlington State University, Arlington, Texas. He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland in 1958. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in January 1942 as an aviation cadet and received his pilot wings and commission as second lieutenant at Foster Field, Victoria, Texas, in October 1942.

He then was assigned to the 10th Troop Carrier Group, Pope Field, N.C., an organization in the newly activated I Troop Carrier Command. After serving as an operations officer in the 10th Troop Carrier Group at various locations in the United States, General Bray was selected to be a member of the cadre for the activation of the 4th Combat Cargo Group at Syracuse, N.Y., in 1944. He became the first and only commander of the 16th Combat Cargo Squadron in June 1944 and went with the squadron to the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations.

In January 1946 he went to Randolph Field, Texas, as liaison officer and then to Civil Air Patrol Headquarters of the Army Air Forces. In December 1946, he was assigned again to the Troop Carrier Command at Pope Field, N.C., and in January 1947 went to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas.

From 1947 to 1954, General Bray was assigned to Strategic Air Command and served with several organizations in various positions including the 27th Fighter Escort Wing, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, 509th Bombardment Wing, Walker Air Force Base, N.M.; and was deputy commander at Sidi Slimane, French Morocco.

In April 1954 he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., for duty in the Officer Assignment Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, where he became chief, Assignment Policy and Procedures Branch. In August 1958 he entered the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

General Bray went to Japan in July 1959 as director of operations, 483d Troop Carrier Wing. In May 1960 he moved to Naha Air Base, Okinawa, and activated Detachment 1, 315th Air Division, an operational headquarters commanding all 315th Air Division units on Okinawa, including the 21st and 817th Troop Carrier Squadrons. As detachment commander, he participated in several deployments, maneuvers and training exercises in Thailand, Laos and the Republic of Vietnam. From August 1961 to August 1963, he served as the director of plans, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

He returned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in August 1963 and became the assistant deputy director of plans for war plans in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations. In October 1964 he was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Military Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas as assistant for personnel analysis. In August 1966 he was reassigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force where he served in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, as the deputy assistant for joint matters, Directorate of Plans; in June 1967 assumed duties as assistant director of plans for joint and National Security Council matters; in October 1969 became deputy director of plans; and in February 1970 was assigned as director of doctrine, concepts, and objectives, with additional duty as special assistant for Vietnamization. In the latter capacity, he is responsible for the overall management and coordination of all Vietnamization efforts.

In January 1973 General Bray was presented the 1972 Eugene M. Zuckert Management Award in recognition of his selection as the top level Air Force manager of the year. He was cited for demonstrated outstanding leadership and dynamic executive management of the U.S. Air Force Vietnamization Program.

His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and Air Force Commendation Medal. He has had a varied flying career of more than 4,000 flying hours and has qualified in jet fighter, bomber and transport aircraft.

He was promoted to the grade of major general effective May 1, 1970, with date of rank Aug. 10, 1965.


(Current as of March 1, 1973)