Brigadier General Charles W. Lamb is chief, Air Force Regional Civil Engineer for M-X, Norton Air Force Base, Calif. He serves as the facilities program manager for all engineering and services activities related to the M-X weapon system. He is under the operational control of the commander, Ballistic Missile Office, an Air Force Systems Command organization, but operates under overall management policies, procedures and direction issued by the director of engineering and services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
General Lamb was born in 1931, in Nashville, Tenn., where he graduated from West End High School in 1948. He received a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., in 1953, and was listed that year in "American College Student Leaders." In 1960 General Lamb was awarded bachelor and master of science degrees in civil engineering from the University of Oklahoma and was selected as the outstanding graduating civil engineering student. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1958, and Air Command and Staff College in 1964; both located at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
He entered the U.S. Air Force in June 1953 after graduation from the academy. From 1953 to 1958, he had civil engineering assignments at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and L.G. Hanscom Field, Mass.
Between academic assignments to the University of Oklahoma and the Air Command and Staff College, General Lamb was assigned to the inspector general team at Headquarters 17th Air Force, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from 1960 to 1963.
General Lamb was assigned to the Air Force Eastern Test Range at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and was the base civil engineer at Patrick from June 1964 to August 1966. He then transferred to Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam; and worked on "Project Turnkey." The project included developing and constructing Tuy Hoa Air Base from a virgin site to a complete tactical fighter base. "Project Turnkey" was a highly unique undertaking because the Air Force was both design and construction agent, and managed all activities, including procurement and shipment of construction materials, and equipment to the site.
He returned to the United States in August 1967, and was assigned to the Directorate of Civil Engineering at Air Force headquarters where he served in operations and maintenance, military family housing and programs. Two unique aspects of this assignment were development of the Base Engineer Automated Management Systems and life cycle cost techniques for use during design and bid evaluation.
In September 1970 General Lamb transferred to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, as the base, wing and mid-Pacific civil engineer. His responsibilities included Hickam, Wheeler Air Force Base, Kaena Point, Kauai, Johnston Island, American Samoa, and Mount St. John, New Zealand. A major accomplishment was the development and implementation of a 10-year facilities master plan for Hickam.
From July 1973 to November 1976, the general served as deputy chief of staff for engineering and services at Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He then transferred to Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in the same capacity. During these assignments he was involved with comprehensive base planning; environmental planning; energy monitoring and control systems; and innovative energy systems. While at Wright-Patterson, General Lamb was the facility program manager for a Saudi Arabian funded $2.2 billion construction program for the Saudi air force. This program was the largest single facility program managed by the Air Force up to that time, in support of the United States' worldwide commitments; and involved definition of requirements, programming, design, construction and furnishings at five different locations. He assumed his present duties in March 1981.
His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal.
In 1976 General Lamb was the Air Force recipient of the Society of American Military Engineers' Newman Medal for the most outstanding contribution to military engineering through achievement in design construction, administration, research and development. He is currently listed in "Who's Who in Engineering."
During his military career he has been associated with the American Society of Civil Engineers, Society of American Military Engineers, Sigma Xi, Prestressed Concrete Institute, American Public Works Association, American Defense Preparedness Association, Air Force Association, Society of Logistics Engineers, Services Society, Air Force Institute of Technology Association of Graduates and Toastmasters International.
He was promoted to brigadier general July 1, 1977, with date of rank June 19, 1977.
(Current as of July 1981)