MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT B. TANGUY

Major General Robert B. Tanguy is commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College, located in Norfolk, Va. The college is operated by the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

General Tonguy is a native of Logansport, Ind. After two years of enlisted service in the U.S. Army, he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and graduated in 1952 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1966 and the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1970, concurrently earning a master's degree in international affairs from The George Washington University.

After receiving his pilot wings in February 1953, General Tanguy served for three years as an instructor pilot at Bryan Air Force Base, Texas, and then as a B-47 aircraft commander with the Strategic Air Command at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

In April 1960 he became aide-de-camp to the commanding general, 7th Air Division, High Wycombe Air Station, England. He returned to the United States in September 1961 and was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as a staff officer in the Directorate of Operational Requirements. The following year General Tanguy left to attend the Experimental Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and in June 1963 was assigned as an F-4C Category III Test Project officer at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. While assigned at MacDill he also served as a flight commander and squadron operations officer.

Following graduation from the Armed Forces Staff College in August 1966, General Tanguy left for the Republic of Vietnam where he commanded the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Da Nang Air Base and flew 186 combat missions in F-4s during his one-year tour of duty.

He served in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Legislative Liaison, Congressional Investigations Division in Washington, D.C., until August 1969 when he entered the National War College.

Upon graduation from the National War College in August 1970, General Tanguy went to Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., as deputy commander for operations until July 1972 when he became commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus. A year later he assumed command of the 29th Flying Training Wing at Craig Air Force Base, Ala., and in February 1974 he became inspector general for the Air Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He returned to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force as deputy director of legislative liaison in July 1974. In April 1977 General Tanguy became commander of the U.S. Air Force Southern Air Division, Tactical Air Command, Howard Air Force Base, Panama, and also deputy commander in chief, U.S. Southern Command, Quarry Heights, Panama. He assumed his present duties in June 1980.

General Tanguy is a command pilot with more than 4,400 hours flying time in 15 different aircraft. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation emblem and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon with two oak leaf clusters.

He was promoted to major general Feb. 24, 1978, with date of rank July 1, 1974.

(Current as of November 1980)