Retired
August 01,1990
Died February 01,2002
Major General John C. Scheidt Jr. is director for operations, Defense Nuclear Agency, Washington, D.C.
General Scheidt was born in 1934, in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1952. He received a bachelor's degree from New York University in 1958 and a master of arts degree in business administration from Auburn University. He completed the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School in 1964, Air Command and Staff College in 1970, and the National War College in 1976.
The general was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program and entered primary pilot training in July 1958 at Bartow Air Force Base, Fla., where he flew T-34s and T-37s. In July 1959 he completed basic pilot training and received wings at Craig Air Force Base, Ala., where he flew the T-33.
After completing advanced flying training in F-100s at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., he transferred to the 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath, England, as an F-100 Super Sabre pilot. From July 1963 to August 1969 the general was assigned to Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. There he served with the 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron as an F-100 pilot, then with the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing as wing weapons officer, chief of training analysis and development, and chief of operations control. He then became plans officer for the 832nd Air Division. During his tour of duty at Cannon, General Scheidt performed temporary duty in Iran, Japan, South Korea and twice in Southeast Asia. He was a member of the first Tactical Air Command fighter squadron to deploy to Southeast Asia during the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
After graduating from Air Command and Staff College in October 1970, he was assigned to the 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, as flight commander. He later served as chief of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing's Standardization Division.
Returning to the United States in August 1971, General Scheidt was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as a politico-military affairs officer. He then served as chief, Near East, Africa, South Asia Branch, and later as plans and policy officer of the Middle East/Africa Division, Office of the Deputy Director for Plans and Policy, Directorate of Plans.
After completing the National War College in July 1976, General Scheidt was assigned to the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, George Air Force Base, Calif. There he served as assistant deputy commander and, subsequently, deputy commander for operations, Wild Weasel. He later was deputy commander for operations for the wing. In July 1979 General Scheidt became vice commander of the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical), Osan Air Base, South Korea, and in May 1980 assumed command of the wing. From March 1981 to July 1982 he served as assistant deputy chief of staff for operations, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. He then was assigned to the U.S. Readiness Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., as deputy director of operations.
In July 1985 the general was assigned to Sembach Air Base, West Germany, as commander of the 65th Air Division and vice commander of 17th Air Force. In August 1986 he became commander of the United States Logistics Group, Ankara Air Station, Turkey. He assumed his present position in May 1988.
The general is a command pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with five service stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
He was promoted to major general July 1, 1986, with same date of rank.
(Current as of May 1990)