BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES SUTHERLAND CREEDON

Brigadier General James Sutherland Creedon is director of inspection, Headquarters Air Force Inspection and Safety Center, Norton Air Force Base, Calif.

General Creedon was born in 1931 in Pittsburgh. The general graduated from Dean Academy, Franklin, Mass., in 1949. He received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, in 1953 and a master of science degree in international relations from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1966. He has attended several military service schools including Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; the Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.; and National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

General Creedon received his commission in July 1953 through the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. He entered active service in September 1953 with pilot training at Spence Air Force Base, Ga., and received his wings in September 1954 at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. He then attended B-26 transition training at Vance Air Force Base, Okla.

His first rated assignment was in December 1954 as a B-26 pilot with the 3rd Bombardment Wing (Light), Johnson Air Base, Japan, where he later flew B-57s with the 6th Tow Target Squadron.

In December 1958 he returned to the United States to become air operations officer for the 4751st Air Defense Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla. From April through July 1959, he attended Squadron Officer School. He then returned to Hurlburt Field to serve as a missile operations officer and executive officer for the 4751st Air Defense Squadron.

From August 1962 to August 1965, General Creedon was a missile staff officer at Air Defense Command headquarters, Ent Air Force Base, Colo. During this assignment he was the project officer for the first anti-satellite system in the Air Force. He next attended the Naval Command and Staff College, graduating in June 1966.

General Creedon transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in August 1966 as an operations staff officer with the Requirements and Evaluation Group in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations.

Following this assignment General Creedon flew OV-10s in the Republic of Vietnam from July 1969 through July 1970, as the assistant air liaison officer and forward air controller with the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division. He was also the assistant deputy director, III Corps Direct Air Support Center, Bien Hoa Air Base. During this assignment General Creedon flew 161 combat missions. He returned to the United States and entered the National War College in August 1970.

From August 1971 to July 1972, General Creedon was director of plans and programs at Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He next served as deputy commander for operations, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. He was named wing commander in July 1973. From March 1976 to September 1978, General Creedon was joint test director, electronic warfare, close air support joint test, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He was also the assistant to the deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, for tactical information management.

In September 1978 he assumed command of the 26th North American Air Defense Command Region and the 26th Air Division with headquarters at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., where he served until assuming his current position in August 1980.

General Creedon is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours in B-26s, B-57s, F-14s, F-15s, F-106s, OV-10s, T-33s, T-37s, T-38s and T-39s. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Presidential Unit Citation emblem, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon with oak leaf cluster and Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st Class.

He was promoted to brigadier general June 1, 1976, with date of rank May 28, 1976.

(Current as of July 1981)