Brigadier General JAMES T. BODDIE JR.

Brigadier General James T. Boddie Jr. is deputy director for operations, J-3, National Military Command Center, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.

General Boddie was born in Baltimore in 1931 and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School there in 1949. He received his bachelor's degree from Howard University, Washington, D.C., in 1954. The general is a graduate of the Academic Instructors School and Squadron Officer School, both located at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. He is also a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.; the Air War College at Maxwell; and earned a master of public administration degree from Auburn (Ala.) University.

He received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps program and was awarded the Convair Aviation Association Award for his outstanding accomplishments as a cadet.

General Boddie entered primary pilot training in March 1955 at Bartow Air Force Base, Fla., where he flew PA-18s and T-6G's. From there he went to single engine basic pilot training at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas, flying T-28s and T-33s and earning his wings in March 1956.

His first operational assignment was with the 560th Strategic Fighter Squadron at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, which was equipped with F-84F Thunderstreaks.

In May 1957 he was assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for gunnery and weapons delivery training in the F-100 Super Sabre. Upon completion in September 1957, the general was assigned to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Weapons Center, Wheelus Air Base, Tripoli, Libya. For the next 45 months he performed instructor pilot, flight test and standardization duties, requiring he be simultaneously current and qualified in T-33s, F-86s, F-100s and B-57s.

He returned to the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps program in February 1961 as commandant of cadets at Tuskegee Institute, Ala. He also taught military aspects of world political geography and international relations to senior cadets.

In June 1965 General Boddie joined the 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., where he flew and instructed in F-4s.

The following year he volunteered for combat duty in Southeast Asia and was assigned to the 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, in October 1966. In addition to his duties as operations and scheduling officer, he flew 201 F-4 combat missions including 57 missions over North Vietnam.

General Boddie returned to the 4453rd at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in August 1967 and commanded the F-4 replacement training unit weapons school of the 4457th Tactical Training Squadron until July 1971. During this tour of duty, he was also appointed provisional squadron commander of the 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron which was being formed to receive A-7D's.

The general's next assignment took him to Headquarters Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, as chief of the Flying Status Branch in the Directorate of Personnel Program Actions until August 1974 when he entered the Air War College.

Following his studies at the Air War College in July 1975, General Boddie was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., as chief of the Maintenance Standardization and Evaluation Division of the Directorate of Maintenance Engineering. He led a 27-member team that evaluated the aircraft maintenance management effectiveness of all the command's units.

In August 1976 he moved to Moody Air Force Base, Ga., as deputy commander for operations of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing. The next year he became vice commander of the wing. In June 1978 he became 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) vice commander at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and took command in June 1979. The general assumed his present duties in June 1980.

General Boddie is a command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in jet fighter aircraft. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon with three oak leaf clusters and "V" device, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal with service star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm and Vietnam Campaign Medal. He also wears the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff badge.

He was promoted to brigadier general Aug. 1, 1980, with date of rank July 25, 1980.

(Current as of November 1980)