BRIGADIER GENERAL EDWARD N. GIDDINGS

Brigadier General Edward N. Giddings is commander of the Air Force District of Washington, D.C.

General Giddings was born in 1935, in Sharon, Conn., and graduated from Greenwich (Conn.) High School in 1954. He received a bachelor of science degree in business administration and earned his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program as a distinguished military graduate from the University of Connecticut in 1958. General Giddings earned a master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1968. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa. In 1984 the general completed the Harvard University Executive Program for Senior Managers in Government.

After receiving his commission he completed primary flying training at Malden Air Base, Mo.; basic jet training at Craig Air Force Base, Ala.; and advanced fighter training at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

General Giddings was assigned to the 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Woodbridge, England, from 1960 to 1964. He transferred to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., as an F-100 weapons systems officer in 1964. In 1966 he was assigned to the 1st U.S. Air Cavalry Division, An Khe, Republic of Vietnam, as a forward air controller and Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, as an air operations officer.

Following his Vietnam assignments General Giddings graduated from the Air Command and Staff College in 1968. He was then assigned to the Air Force Academy, Colo., as a squadron and group air officer commanding, from 1968 to 1971. In 1972, upon completion of his tour of duty at the Air Force Academy, General Giddings became a student at the Army War College. From 1972 to 1974, he was assigned as assistant deputy and later deputy commander for operations for the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, S.C., and Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. General Giddings was then assigned to the Air Staff within the Deputate for Personnel, Washington, D.C. In June 1976 he was named commander of the 3505th U.S. Air Force Recruiting Group at Chanute Air Force Base, Ill.

The general commanded the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, from April 1978 to June 1980. General Giddings was then assigned as deputy chief of staff for operations, Air Training Command, also at Randolph Air Force Base. In July 1983 he became director of the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. He assumed his present duties in July 1985.

General Giddings is a command pilot with more than 3,370 flying hours and has earned the Parachutist Badge. He has flown more than 205 combat missions and more than 426 combat hours in Southeast Asia as a fighter pilot and forward air controller. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, Humanitarian Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm.

He was promoted to brigadier general June 1, 1980, with date of rank May 28, 1980.

(Current as of October 1985)