MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM T. TWINTING Major General William T. Twinting is commander, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. General Twinting was born Feb. 26, 1928, in Berwin, Ill., and graduated from La Grange High School. He received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico in 1951. The general is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base. In January 1952 General Twinting entered the aviation cadet program at Kinston Airfield, N.C. He completed flying training at Craig Air Force Base, Ala., and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in February 1953. After completing F-86 combat crew training at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., General Twinting was assigned to Hamilton Air Force Base, Calif., and later to Misawa Air Base, Japan, as a fighter pilot. Following these assignments he attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. He served as a test pilot until 1961 when he was selected to attend the Aerospace Research Pilot School also at Edwards Air Force Base. Following this training he remained there as a test pilot conducting initial A-37, F-4 and F-105F testing. Following graduation from the Army Command and General Staff College in June 1966, General Twinting served a combat tour of duty in Southeast Asia. He flew 100 combat missions in F-105s from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. He returned to Edwards Air Force Base in August 1967 to direct A-7 flight testing. Subsequent assignments at Edwards included deputy commandant of the Test Pilot School and commander of the 6512th Test Squadron. In August 1973 he attended the Air War College and upon completion he served with the director of test and evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C., until August 1977. At that time he returned to Edwards as commander of the 6510th Test Wing. In this capacity he was responsible for flight testing B-1s, F-15s, F-16s, A-10s and KC-10s, and the air launched and ground launched cruise missile test programs. He also supervised flight test engineering, support ranges and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. General Twinting was named commander of the Space and Missile Test Organization at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., in July 1980. He managed test and launch activities of Air Force space and ballistic missile systems. He operated both the Western and Eastern Space and Missile Centers, at Vandenberg and Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., respectively; and served as Department of Defense manager for Space Shuttle Support Operations. The general served as deputy chief of staff for test and evaluation, Headquarters Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Md., from November 1982 to August 1983. He then commanded the Armament Division at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The general assumed his present command in July 1985. General Twinting is a command pilot with more than 7,000 flying hours and 100 combat missions in Southeast Asia. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He was promoted to major general July 1, 1983, with date of rank Aug. 1, 1979. (Current as of February 1986)