MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM J. MALL JR. Major General William J. Mall Jr. is director of personnel plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He is responsible for all aspects of personnel planning and policy to assure the Air Force of the quantity and quality of trained, motivated people necessary to meet its mission in either peace or war. General Mail was born in 1933, in Pittsburgh where he graduated from North Catholic High School. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He earned a master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and completed the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1966. General Mall also attended the Senior Managers in Government program at Harvard University in 1980. He began his military career with a commission as a second lieutenant from the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at the University of Pittsburgh in 1954. After graduation from pilot training at Greenville Air Force Base, Miss., in September 1955, his first assignment was to the 310th Strategic Bombardment Wing, Schilling Air Force Base, Kan., where he flew aerial tankers and strategic bombers. He then attended the Air Command and Staff College from August 1965 until October 1966. Following graduation General Mall was assigned to the 436th Military Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Del., as a C-141 pilot and later as chief of the wing airlift command post. From December 1970 to January 1972, he was stationed in the Republic of Vietnam at Bien Hoa and Phan Rang air bases, and at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. During the Vietnam War, General Mall flew more than 900 combat hours in three types of aircraft. Upon his return to the United States in January 1972, he was an operations staff officer assigned to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C. He returned to the Military Airlift Command in January 1974 as assistant deputy commander for operations and later deputy commander for operations, 63rd Military Airlift Wing at Norton Air Force Base, Calif. He transferred to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and from November 1977 to May 1978, he was the inspector general of the Military Airlift Command. He then returned to Dover Air Force Base as commander of the 436th Military Airlift Wing, the only all-C-5A wing in the Military Airlift Command. He returned to Scott Air Force Base in March 1979 as deputy chief of staff for personnel, Headquarters Military Airlift Command and took command of the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service there in August 1981. In March 1983 he become the first commander of Military Airlift Command's 23rd Air Force. He assumed his present duties in September 1985. The general is a command pilot with more than 7,000 flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal with service star, Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, Humanitarian Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm. He was promoted to major general Aug. 1, 1982, with date of rank May 1, 1979. General Mall's hometown is Glenshaw, Pa. (Current as of December 1985)