Major General CLARENCE R. AUTERY

Maj. Gen. Clarence R. Autery is director of programs and evaluation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

General Autery was born in Corrigan, Texas, in 1933, and graduated from Liberty (Texas) High School in 1952. He attended Baylor University, Waco, Texas, where he received bachelor of arts and bachelor of laws degrees. General Autery completed the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa., in 1975.

He received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Baylor University. The general entered primary pilot training at Maiden Air Base, Mo., in December 1957 and completed basic training at Craig Air Force Base, Ala., in January 1959.

Following graduation General Autery was assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., as a B-52G co-pilot. In September 1961 he was assigned to the 42nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France, where he flew RB-66s. He remained there through January 1965, when he was sent on temporary duty for his first combat tour of duty at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. After RF-4C transition training, General Autery volunteered for and served a second combat tour of duty with the 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.

Returning to the United States in January 1967, General Autery was assigned to Air Force headquarters as an operations staff officer in the Directorate of Operations and later as an executive officer for the deputy chief of staff for plans and operations. In July 1971 he became commander of the 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Zweibrucken Air Base, Germany, where he again flew RF-4C's. He subsequently served as 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing chief of maintenance. He moved to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in October 1973, to serve as executive officer for the commander in chief, United States Air Forces in Europe.

General Autery returned to the United States in July 1974 and attended the Army War College. After graduation in July 1975, he was assigned to the 456th Bombardment Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., as assistant deputy commander and shortly thereafter became deputy commander for resource management. The wing was redesignated the 17th Bombardment Wing in September 1975 and he was appointed vice commander in March 1976. While he was serving in that position, the wing designation changed to the 100th Air Refueling Wing in September 1976.

In July 1977 he transferred to Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., as vice commander of the 28th Bombardment Wing and took command of the wing in April 1978. General Autery was assigned to Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., as director, command control, in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, from March 1979 until February 1981, when he was appointed SAC's assistant deputy chief of staff for operations. In August 1982 General Autery became commander of the 3rd Air Division, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, where he was responsible for all SAC operations in the Western Pacific. In July 1984 he was appointed vice commander of SAC's 8th Air Force, with headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. He assumed his present duties in November 1985.

The general is a command pilot with more than 6,000 flying hours and 150 combat missions. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal.

He was promoted to major general May 1, 1983, with date of rank July 1, 1979.

(Current as of November 1985)