BRIGADIER GENERAL CHARLES F. LUIGS

Brigadier General Charles F. Luigs is director of inspection, Headquarters Air Force Inspection and Safety Center, Norton Air Force Base, Calif.

General Luigs was born in 1938, in Paducah, Ky., where he graduated from Paducah High School in 1956. He received a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of South Carolina in 1961 and a master of science degree in education from Troy State University in 1972. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1965, Air Command and Staff College in 1971, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1981.

After graduating as a distinguished graduate from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program in January 1961, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. The general completed pilot training at Webb Air Force Base, Texas, in November 1962. He then served at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., as a T-33 and T-38 instructor pilot.

In September 1966 General Luigs was assigned to the F-4 replacement training unit at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. From March 1967 to March 1968 he served with the 558th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Republic of South Vietnam, as chief of weapons and tactics. He then was assigned as an F-4 instructor pilot at George Air Force Base, Calif. From August 1971 to August 1972 he attended Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

The general then was a fighter operations adviser to the Republic of Korea air force, Seoul, and flew F-86, F-5 and F-4 aircraft. In August 1974 he was assigned as chief of standardization and evaluation for the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea.

From September 1975 to May 1977 General Luigs was operations officer for the 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., flying air-to-air F-4s. He remained there as commander of the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which has an air-to-ground operational capability, until March 1979. He then was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., as chief of fighter operations.

He attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces from August 1980 to August 1981. He then returned to Tactical Air Command headquarters as deputy director of plans and programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans. In July 1982 General Luigs was appointed vice commander of the 15th Air Base Wing, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, and assumed command of the wing in July 1983. In April 1984 he became inspector general for Pacific Air Forces.

From May 1985 to March 1986 he commanded the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Clark Air Base, Philippines. He then served as commander of 13th Air Force at Clark. In August 1986 he became vice commander of 5th Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan. He became deputy director for operations, Headquarters U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, in September 1987. He assumed his current position in December 1989.

The general is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours in the T-33, T-37, T-38, F-4C/D/E, F-5 and F-86 aircraft. He flew 242 combat missions in F-4C's in Southeast Asia, including 75 over North Vietnam, logging 381 combat flying hours. His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, and Joint Service Commendation Medal.

He was promoted to brigadier general Nov. 1, 1986, with same date of rank.

(Current as of March 1990)