MAJOR GENERAL RUSSELL E. MOHNEY

Major General Russell E. Mohney is deputy chief of staff for logistics, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

General Mohney was born in 1931, in Geneva, Ohio, where he graduated from high school in 1949. He received a bachelor of science degree in history through the Bootstrap program from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1962 and a master of science degree in systems and logistics from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in 1967. The general completed Squadron Officer School and Air War College, both located at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

Enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in September 1951, General Mohney entered aviation cadet training in March 1952 at James Connally Air Force Base, Texas. He graduated in September 1952 with a commission as a second lieutenant and aircraft observer wings. He then received advanced radar intercept training at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

General Mohney served as a radar observer with the 46th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Del., from January to October 1953. He entered pilot training at Greenville Air Force Base, Miss., and received his wings in October 1954. In July 1955, after transition training at Perrin Air Force Base, Texas, General Mohney was assigned to Itazuke Air Base, Japan, as an interceptor pilot. He returned to Tyndall Air Force Base in December 1957 for airborne intercept controller training.

From March 1958 to September 1962, General Mohney was assigned to the 961st Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron at Otis Air Force Base, Mass., and served as a line pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation for RC-121D's. While there he attended Squadron Officer School and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.

In September 1962 General Mohney moved to Hancock Field, N.Y., and later to Stewart Air Force Base, N.Y., with the 26th Air Division as chief of the Seaward Extension Branch (Airborne). As part of the semiautomatic ground environment system, this branch maintained airborne radar surveillance along the northeastern coast of the United States in C-121s. He also served as project officer for the airborne long range input program which automated the aircraft, changing their communications with ground stations from voice to a digital data system.

General Mohney was assigned to the 309th Air Commando Squadron at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, in July 1965 as commander and operations officer of the Special Aerial Spray Flight which conducted Operation Ranchhand. Upon his return to the United States in July 1966, he entered the Air Force Institute of Technology graduate school of systems and logistics.

In November 1967 General Mohney moved to Tripoli, Libya, where he was chief of the Air Section and Logistics Staff Office for the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Libya. He returned to the United States in July 1970 to attend the Air War College. General Mohney was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in July 1971 as executive officer to the deputy chief of staff for systems and logistics. In May 1973 he transferred to Langley Air Force Base, Va., as vice commander of the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing.

From February 1975 to January 1976, he was assigned to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, as commander of the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing. He then took command of the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. In August 1977 he was named assistant deputy chief of staff for logistics operations at Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base until June 1979. He then served as vice commander of the San Antonio Air Logistics Center at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. He assumed his present duties in June 1980.

General Mohney is a command pilot with more than 7,000 flying hours in various aircraft, including 348 combat missions in Southeast Asia. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 25 oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with silver star and palm. He is a member of the Order of Daedalians, an honorary flying fraternity.

He was promoted to major general June 1, 1980, with date of rank July 1, 1976.

(Current as of June 1982)