Major General Stebbins West Griffith is deputy chief of staff for intelligence at the North American Air Defense Command/Continental Air Defense Command headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. He provides the commander in chief NORAD/CONAD, intelligence support needed to plan and conduct the air defense of North America, intelligence on foreign space activities, and formulates command intelligence guidance policy regarding operating procedures and control of classified information.
General Griffith was born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1916. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1937, with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and received his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, in August 1941.
From 1941 to 1948, General Griffith served as commandant of cadets at the "West Point of the Air," Randolph Field, Texas; chief of pilot training, Headquarters Air Training Command; commander of the 47th Bombardment Group, Biggs Air Force Base, Texas; and as operations adviser to the Chinese Air Force at Nanking, China.
In 1949 he was assigned to Fifth Air Force Headquarters at Nagoya, Japan, as director of operations. On his return to the United States in 1950, General Griffith assumed command of the Human Resources Research Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. From 1952 through 1954, he was commander of the 3585th Pilot Training Wing at Gary Air Force Base, Texas.
After graduating from the Air War College in 1955, General Griffith was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C., where he was chief of the Military Capabilities Division, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence.
He commanded the 7272d Air Base Wing, Wheelus Air Base, Libya, from January 1959 until January 1962, when he became commander of the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center, St. Louis, Mo. He was then assigned to the North American Air Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Colo., in July 1963, as deputy chief of staff, intelligence. In July 1966 he assumed duties as director of intelligence, Headquarters U.S. European Command.
In June 1969 he became deputy chief of staff for intelligence at the North American Air Defense Command/Continental Air Defense Command (NORAD/CONAD) headquarters at Ent Air Force Base, Colo.
While commander of Wheelus Air Base, Libya, General Griffith participated in the investigation of the mystery of the "Lady be Good," B-24 Liberator bomber and the search for its crewmembers, lost for 17 years in the Libyan desert.
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem with oak leaf cluster.
(Current as of June 15, 1969)