Major General George B. Powers Jr., is assistant deputy chief of staff for logistics and engineering, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He assists the deputy chief of staff in developing and administering a $35 billion budget and establishing policy and providing direction for more than 600,000 Air Force personnel (active, reserve and civilian). Responsibilities include civil engineering, facility services, and supply support for 135 major bases and 2,500 installations around the world; maintenance, supply, fuel and munitions for more than 12,000 aircraft and missiles; operation and maintenance of 108,000 vehicles; transportation for Air Force people and supplies; and international air movement of Department of Defense passengers and cargo.
General Powers was born in St. Louis, in 1931, and grew up in Tucson, Ariz. He received a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Arizona in 1954 and was commissioned a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He earned a master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1965, and completed Air Command and Staff College in 1965 and Army War College in 1974.
General Powers entered active duty at Clovis Air Force Base, N.M., in May 1954 and served successively as adjutant, special services officer and personnel services officer for the 388th Fighter-Bomber Wing.
In April 1955 General Powers began pilot training at Bartow Air Base, Fla. He completed training and received his wings at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., in April 1956.
From August 1956 to June 1959, General Powers was a C-124 pilot and assistant operations officer with the 48th Air Transport Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, where he flew missions throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia. He moved to Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, in July 1959 and continued flying the C-124 with the 19th Logistic Support Squadron. The squadron was responsible for worldwide movement of special weapons.
During 1960 General Powers attended Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and in December 1960 become a member of the school's faculty. He served there until 1964 when he entered Air Command and Staff College, also at Maxwell.
General Powers was assigned to Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., in July 1965 and served in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans as chief of the command briefing team and special assistant for presentations. His next assignment in August 1970 was as commander of the 617th Military Airlift Support Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam.
In August 1971 General Powers was assigned to the 63rd Military Airlift Wing, Norton Air Force Base, Calif., as commander of the 53rd Military Airlift Squadron. From November 1972 to July 1973, he was the wing's deputy commander for operations. During this time a Norton-based C-141 was the first plane to fly into Hanoi, North Vietnam, to return U.S. prisoners of war for Operation Homecoming.
In June 1974, after attending the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., General Powers returned to Headquarters Military Airlift Command. He was director of programming and policy, and command project officer for consolidation of tactical and strategic airlift forces. In this consolidation, tactical airlift forces and bases were reassigned from Tactical Air Command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Pacific Air Forces, Alaskan Air Command and Southern Command to the Military Airlift Command, which became a specified command.
General Powers returned to Norton Air Force Base in 1976 and became commander of the 63rd Military Airlift Wing. In February 1978 he moved to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and assumed command of the 437th Military Airlift Wing. The general was assigned as the director of transportation, deputy chief of staff for logistics and engineering at Air Force headquarters in June 1979. General Powers assumed command of the Defense Construction Supply Center, Defense Logistics Agency, Columbus, Ohio, in August 1982. He was responsible for a $1 billion acquisition program, management of more than 350,000 supply items and distribution to fill more than 4 million requisitions a year from U.S. Armed Forces around the world. He also managed a heavy industrial plant equipment storage, repair and overhaul facility. He assumed his current position in July 1984.
A command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, General Powers has flown T-6s, B-25s, T-33s, T-39s, C-124s and C-141s. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm. He is a member of the Order of Daedalians, a military pilot's honorary fraternity.
He was promoted to major general June 1, 1982, with date of rank Aug. 1, 1978.
(Current as of March 2021)