Brigadier General George J. Iannacito is commander of the Pacific Communications Area of the Air Force Communications Service, with Headquarters at Wheeler Air Force Base, Hawaii. The Pacific Communications Area is responsible for engineering, installing, operating and maintaining on-base and long-haul communications, air traffic control and navigational aid services and facilities for the Air Force and other Federal and non-governmental agencies throughout the Pacific. He also functions as deputy chief of staff, communications-electronics, Pacific Air Forces.
General Iannacito was born in 1921, in Denver, Colo., where he graduated from North High School in 1939. He attended the University of Maryland in 1961 and The George Washington University in 1963. He joined the Army Air Corps Enlisted Reserve in July 1942; in February 1943 entered active duty as an aviation cadet; and received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant at Waco, Texas, in January 1944.
He served with the Flying Training Command from January 1944 to September 1947 in the various capacities of mission pilot, instructor, flying safety officer, and base operations officer at three bombardier training bases. He became commander of Amchitka Air Base, Alaska, and a year later was transferred to the Aleutian Command, Adak, Alaska, as the assistant director of operations. General Iannacito returned to the United States in June 1949 and had various assignments with the Air Training Command and the Air University as a student, Air Tactical School; and as an instructor and plans officer, Squadron Officer Course.
In August 1953 General Iannacito was assigned to Strategic Air Command, and performed duty as squadron operations officer on Okinawa and later as deputy director of operations at Lincoln Air Force Base, Neb. From August 1956 to May 1957 he served as commander of the 370th Bombardment Squadron at Lincoln Air Force Base, Neb.
General Iannacito next was assigned to the Directorate of Plans and Programs, Headquarters Technical Training Wing at Lowry Air Force Base, Colo., and in January 1959 he entered the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Va. In August 1959 he was assigned to the War Plans Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
He attended the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., August 1962 to July 1963, when he was assigned to the Strategic Plans and Policy Division, assistant chief of staff for plans, on the staff of the commander in chief, Pacific, at Camp Smith, Hawaii.
His service with the Air Force Communications Service began in August 1966 when he became the director of plans and programs at Headquarters Eastern Communications Region, Westover Air Force Base, Mass. In October 1967 he became commander of the 2049th Communications Group, McClellan Air Force Base, Calif. While assigned to the 2049th, he attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University, Mass.
In August 1968 General Iannacito assumed command of Air Force Communications Service, United Kingdom Communications Region, at South Ruislip Air Station, and assumed additional duties as deputy chief of staff, communications-electronics for Third Air Force. General Iannacito was transferred to Headquarters Air Force Communications Service at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., in August 1969 where he became the deputy chief of staff for plans and programs.
General Iannacito was assigned as commander of the Pacific Communications Area of the Air Force Communications Service with headquarters at Wheeler Air Force Base, Hawaii, in July 1970, with additional duties as deputy chief of staff, communications-electronics, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces.
His military decorations and awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.
General Iannacito's hometown is Denver, Colo.
He was promoted to the temporary grade of brigadier general effective Aug. 1, 1970, with date of rank June 26, 1970.
(Current as of July 15, 1972)