BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT I. MCCANN

Brigadier General Robert I. McCann is vice commander of 9th Air Force, Tactical Air Command, with headquarters at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

General McCann was born in 1935, in Boston and graduated from Dedham (Mass.) High School in 1953. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1958 with a bachelor of science degree and received a master's degree in business administration from Auburn (Ala.) University in 1974. General McCann completed the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1974.

Upon graduation from the academy, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and was awarded his pilot wings in September 1959. Following pilot training General McCann served with the Strategic Air Command at Pease Air Force Base, N.H., until August 1964. He was then assigned to Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., as an instructor pilot with the Air Training Command.

In May 1968 General McCann joined the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he flew 154 combat missions in RF-40s, including 100 missions over North Vietnam.

He returned to the United States in March 1969 and was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., as an air officer commanding until June 1970, when he became operations officer for the 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Alconbury, England. From July 1971 to November 1972, General McCann was assigned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as commander of the 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, and then served as deputy base commander until June 1973.

Graduating from the Air War College in June 1974, he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C., as chief of the Regional Negotiations Division, Plans and Policy Directorate and a member of the United States delegation to the negotiations with the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact nations on the Mutual Reduction of Forces and Armament in Central Europe.

From August 1976 to July 1977, General McCann was assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as deputy commander for operations of the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing. He then became deputy commander for operations of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, and the wing vice commander in July 1978.

General McCann commanded the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., from May 1979 until August 1980, and was then assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., as commander of the 836th Air Division until November 1982 when he assumed his present duties.

The general is a command pilot with more than 5,600 flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with 12 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Purple Heart and several unit citations.

He was promoted to brigadier general April 1, 1981, with date of rank March 31, 1981.

(Current as of January 1983)