Brigadier General Harold H. Rhoden is vice commander, 9th Air Force, and deputy commander, Central Command Air Forces, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
General Rhoden was born in 1943, in Rogers, Ark., and graduated from Rogers High School In 1961. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas in 1965 and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1974. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1967, Air Command and Staff College in 1971, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1976 and Air War College in 1984.
The general was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program in July 1965. After completing undergraduate pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., in July 1966, he was assigned to the 3560th Fighter Training Wing at Webb Air Force Base, Texas, as a T-37 instructor pilot.
In October 1969 he was transferred to the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., where he received F-4 upgrade training. After completing this training in July 1970, General Rhoden served with the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he flew 281 combat missions.
In August 1971 General Rhoden was assigned to the 414th Fighter Weapons Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., where he flew F-4s as an instructor pilot. In July 1974 he became an Air Force exchange officer with the U.S. Navy, flying F-4Js at Miramar Naval Air Station, Calif. There he also flew T-38, A-4 and F-5 aggressor aircraft at the Navy Top Gun School.
From August 1976 to April 1979 the general was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., where he served in the Directorate of Program Management with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Requirements.
General Rhoden completed F-5 upgrade training at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., In May 1979. From July 1979 to April 1981 he was commander of the Dhahran Advisory Detachment, King Abdul Aziz Royal Saudi Air Base, Saudi Arabia, and flew F-5E/F and British Lightning aircraft.
After completing A-10 upgrade training at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., in May 1981, and until June 1982, the general was assigned as commander of the A-10 forward operating location at Detachment 1, 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, Sembach Air Base, West Germany. He then served as deputy commander for operations, 601st Tactical Control Wing, also at Sembach.
General Rhoden entered Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in August 1983. Upon graduation in August 1984, he became chief of the Saudi Arabian Division, Directorate of International Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He was responsible for all Air Force security assistance programs In Saudi Arabia, Including the F-5, F-15, E-3A AWACS, and KE-3A tanker aircraft.
In June 1986 he was assigned to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Station Bentwaters, England, as vice commander and, subsequently, as wing commander. In August 1988 he was named inspector general, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe Inspection Center, and deputy chief of staff for productivity, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany. In January 1990 General Rhoden served on temporary duty as deputy commander of the Joint Task Force Middle East, U.S. Central Command, aboard the USS Lasalle in Bahrain. He was assigned as deputy inspector general, U.S. Air Force, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C., In July 1990. He assumed his current position in September 1992.
The general is a command pilot with more than 5,000 hours in fighter aircraft. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters.
He was promoted to brigadier general March 1, 1990, with same date of rank.
(Current as of March 2021)