MAJOR GENERAL FRANK J. SIMOKAITIS Major General Frank J. Simokaitis is commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology and commandant of the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. A component of Air University, the Air Force Institute of Technology administers and conducts degree-granting and continuing education in scientific, technological, managerial, medical and other areas in response to Air Force and Department of Defense requirements. The Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management provides consolidated security assistance management education to U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force personnel, Department of Defense and other Federal employees, and representatives of foreign governments. The Defense Institute also conducts research and offers consultation services in security assistance to interested agencies. General Simokaitis was born in 1922, in St. Louis, Mo., where he graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1940. He attended Washington University in St. Louis, and received a doctor of jurisprudence degree from St. Louis University (School of Law) in January 1950. He began active military duty in March 1942 as an aviation cadet at Stamford, Texas, received flight training at Perrin and Ellington Army air fields, Texas, and graduated with his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant in January 1943. His first operational assignment was at Lake Charles Army Air Field, La., as a B-26 pilot and instructor and later as flight commander with the 478th Bombardment Squadron. General Simokaitis was transferred to the European theater of operations in November 1944 as a bomber pilot, instructor pilot and flight commander with the 9th Air Force. He flew 27 combat missions. He was released from active duty in December 1945 and became a member of the reserve. General Simokaitis received a regular Air Force commission in November 1947 while attending law school. He completed the Office of Special Investigations Training School in May 1950 and then served with OSI district headquarters offices at Scott and Chanute Air Force bases, Ill. In March 1951 he moved to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany, where he continued working with the OSI in various investigative and supervisory capacities. General Simokaitis returned to the United States in December 1953 to attend the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. In July 1954 he was assigned to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., as a transport pilot with the 1608th Air Transport Wing. He later served as wing flying safety officer, acting base inspector, and base plans officer. In May 1956 he was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., where he served as assistant chief of the Security Branch, and executive in the Promotions and Separations Division. His next assignment was to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, from July 1960 until July 1963, as a plans and programs officer and chief, Contingency Plans Division in the Directorate of Plans. He returned to Washington, D.C., in July 1963 to be executive officer to the administrative assistant, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. In May 1969 he assumed duty as executive assistant to the secretary of the Air Force. He was responsible for administration of the secretary's office and for directing and monitoring projects of major interest to the secretary. He remained in that position until February 1973 when he assumed command of the Air Force Institute of Technology. In addition to being the Commandant of AFIT, in September 1976 General Simokaitis became the first commandant of the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management. He is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours and has flown more than 10 different types of aircraft. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal. He is a member of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity, and has been admitted to the practice of law before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Claims and the Supreme Court of the State of Missouri. General Simokaitis was promoted to the grade of major general on April 2, 1973, with date of rank Aug. 1, 1969. (Current as of April 1977)