Retired
September 01,1989
Major General Michael D. Hall is director of strategic, special operations forces and airlift programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
General Hall was born in 1935, in Banning, Calif., and graduated from Beaumont (Calif.) Union High School in 1952. He earned a bachelor of science degree in engineering from the University of Southern California in 1957 and a master of science degree in national resource administration from The George Washington University in 1978. The general graduated from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in 1967. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1964, Air Command and Staff College in 1972, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1978.
He was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Southern California in June 1957. After completing primary pilot training at Moore Air Base, Texas, and basic pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., in January 1959, General Hall attended advanced pilot training at Perrin Air Force Base, Texas. Upon graduation he remained at Perrin Air Force Base as an instructor pilot in T-33s, F-86s and F-102s.
From September 1962 to September 1965 he was assigned to the 40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, as an F-102 pilot. When he returned to the United States, General Hall served with the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., as an F-4 pilot until August 1966. He completed the Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in July 1967 and transferred to the Test Operations Fighter Branch as a test pilot and project officer for F-4E test programs. The general next joined the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he served as commander of the F-4 forward air controllers from June 1970 to June 1971.
When he returned from Thailand, General Hall was assigned to the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, Calif., as the Air Force technical manager for development of the joint Navy and Air Force air-to-air missile, the AIM-9L Sidewinder. From September 1974 to August 1977 he served as test director for the AIM-9L at the Air Force Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
After graduating from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in August 1978, General Hall was assigned to the 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as deputy commander for operations. In August 1980 he became commander of the 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base. In August 1983 he was named deputy director, defense test and evaluation, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense, Research and Engineering, Washington, D.C. General Hall became deputy director, operational test and evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C., in March 1984. In August 1985 he became commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland. He assumed his present position in July 1987.
The general is a command pilot with 6,500 flying hours in more than 50 different types of aircraft. He flew 170 combat missions in Southeast Asia. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. General Hall is an associate fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
He was promoted to major general Oct. 1, 1986, with same date of rank.
(Current as of August 1988)