Brigadier General Robert Wesley Waltz is the commander of the U.S. Air Force Tactical Air Reconnaissance Center, Tactical Air Command at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. He is responsible for the development, coordination, validating and testing of tactical air reconnaissance requirements, concepts, doctrine, tactics and procedures.
General Waltz was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1920. He enlisted in the Army in January 1942 and was appointed an Aviation Cadet at Maxwell Field, Ala. He completed flying training at Columbus Air Base, Miss., in December 1942 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Officers' Reserve Corps.
In January 1943, General Waltz underwent B-17 transition training at Sebring Field, Fla., graduating the following March. He joined the 390th Bombardment Group at Spokane Air Base, Wash., in April 1943 and was assigned duty as a squadron flight commander.
In January 1944, General Waltz went with the 390th Bombardment Group to the Eighth Bomber Command in England. During his service with this group, he occupied positions as squadron operations officer, group operations officer, group air executive officer and group commander. He has a total of 506 hours of combat flying.
In September 1945, he returned to the United States and served as a group commander at Sioux Falls, S.D. In November 1945, he was transferred to Scott Field, Ill., where he served as base air inspector.
General Waltz entered the Civilian Institution Program in June 1947 and was sent to the University of Denver in Colorado. During the two years spent at the university, he majored in chemistry and political science. He graduated in June 1949.
In June 1949, General Waltz was assigned to the Directorate of Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and assumed the function of staff planning officer. In June 1952, he became the deputy chief of Operations Planning Division, and in August 1952, he assumed the position of deputy chief of the Bombardment Branch.
General Waltz was assigned to Headquarters Twelfth Air Force in May 1953. While assigned to that unit, he held positions as chief of Plans and Programs Division, director of Programming Operations, director of operations and training operations and director of combat operations. In May 1955, he became the commander of Headquarters 86th Air Base Group at Landstuhl Air Base, Germany.
In September 1956, he returned to the United States and was appointed director of operations for the 4622nd Air Defense Wing at Stewart Air Force Base, N.Y. In November 1956, he became deputy commander of the Boston Air Defense Sector at Stewart. He was assigned duty as Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system coordinator for Headquarters Boston Air Defense Sector in July 1958.
From August 1958 through December 1959, he was commander and test director for Detachment 3, Headquarters Air Defense Command at Stewart Air Force Base, N.Y. He assumed command of Detachment 5, 26th Air Division (SAGE) in December 1959, while at Stewart.
General Waltz attended the National War College from August 1960 1 August 1961.
From August 1961 through July 1964, the general was commander of the Ninth Aerospace Defense Division at Ent Air Force Base, Colo. This organization was the first Air Force unit operational in space and was in command of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System and U.S. Air Force SPACETRACK system.
During the period July 1964 through August 1966, General Waltz was the Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans for the Alaskan Air Command at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.
General Waltz assumed his present command, the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Center, in August 1966.
His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster and the French Croix de Guerre. He is a command pilot.
(Current as of Jan. 15, 1967)