MAJOR GENERAL WALTER E. WEBB

Major General Walter E. Webb is director for operations, Defense Nuclear Agency, Washington, D.C.

General Webb was born Aug. 18, 1938, in St. Louis, where he graduated from Ritenour High School in 1956. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina in 1960 and a master's degree in business management from Central Michigan University in 1976. The general was a distinguished graduate of the Air War College in 1978.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and entered active duty in July 1960. General Webb completed undergraduate navigator training at James Connally Air Force Base, Texas, in May 1961, and then received navigator-bombardier training at Mather Air Force Base, Calif. In 1962 he completed B-52 combat crew training at Castle Air Force Base, Calif., and Walker Air Force Base, N.M.

His first operational assignment was with the 4137th Strategic Wing, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., as a B-52 navigator and radar navigator. He was selected for undergraduate pilot training in 1966, and earned pilot's wings at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, in May 1967.

After completing B-52 combat crew training at Castle Air Force Base, the general was assigned to the 306th Bombardment Wing, McCoy Air Force Base, Fla. While there he completed several Arc Light tours of duty in Southeast Asia, and was a B-52 standardization and evaluation crew member. During 1969 he left for helicopter and special operations training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and Hurlburt Field, Fla., graduating as a UH-1 gunship pilot. He then transferred to the 20th Special Operations Squadron, Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, where he was a gunship commander and instructor pilot.

Returning to the United States in September 1970, General Webb became a force application team member on the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. From June 1973 to August 1977 he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as an air operations staff officer, first with the Strategic Operations Division and, later, with the Air Force Readiness Initiatives Group and Project Checkmate.

In June 1978, after graduating from Air War College, the general remained on the faculty as chief of the strategic employment and Soviet military studies phases of the curriculum. In May 1979 he transferred to the 416th Bombardment Wing, Griffiss Air Force Base, N.Y., serving successively as assistant deputy commander for operations, deputy commander for operations, vice wing commander and wing commander. He assumed command of 12th Air Division, Strategic Air Command, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, in July 1985.

General Webb was assigned as deputy director of plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Air Force headquarters, in March 1987, and in May 1987, became director of operations. In August 1989 he became vice director for operations, the Joint Staff. He assumed his present position in July 1990.

The general is a command pilot with more than 4,700 flying hours. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and two oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with seven service stars, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

He was promoted to major general Aug. 1, 1988, with same date of rank.


(Current as of July 1990)