LIEUTENANT GENERAL EUGENE H. FISCHER Lieutenant General Eugene H. Fischer is the inspector general, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He heads the Air Force inspection, investigative, counterintelligence and complaint programs. Also, he is responsible for the evaluation of Air Force operational readiness. General Fischer was born in Pekin, Ill. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Bradley University and a master of science degree in international affairs from The George Washington University. The general graduated from the Naval War College Command and Staff Course in 1970, and the Air War College in 1974. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as an aviation cadet, completing primary pilot training at Malden Air Force Base, Mo., and basic pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., and Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. After completing F-84 combat crew training at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., he was assigned to the Illinois Air National Guard's 169th Tactical Fighter Squadron, where he flew the F-51 and F-84F. He was assigned to the 558th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., in August 1962, and flew the F-84F until December 1963, when the wing became the first operational unit to transition to F-4Cs. In April 1965 he moved with the squadron to Naha Air Base, Okinawa, for rotational support of the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing. The general returned with the 558th Tactical Fighter Squadron to MacDill in June 1965. In November 1965 he deployed with the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing to Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam. General Fischer returned to the United States in October 1966 and became an F-4 instructor pilot with the 431st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 479th Tactical Fighter Wing, George Air Force Base, Calif. Upon graduation from the Naval War College in June 1970, he was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., as an operations staff officer, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans. In July 1972 he transferred to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, and served as chief of standardization and evaluation. He took command of the 4501st Tactical Fighter Squadron there in August 1972. The general completed Air War College in June 1974 and was assigned as vice commander of the 51st Air Base Wing, Osan Air Base, South Korea. While he was there, the wing was reorganized into the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) and equipped with F-4Es and OV-10s. General Fischer was assigned as deputy commander for operations in the newly organized tactical wing. In July 1975 he was named chief of the Readiness Branch in the Directorate of Operations, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C. In December 1977 he transferred to Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., as the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing's deputy commander for operations. General Fischer became the wing's vice commander in August 1979 and took command in January 1980. He returned to Langley Air Force Base in January 1982 as commander of the F-15-equipped 1st Tactical Fighter Wing. The general served as commander of the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., from May 1983 to October 1985, when he became assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and operations, Air Force headquarters. After completing his tour of duty in the Pentagon, the general was assigned as deputy commander in chief, U.S. Southern Command, Quarry Heights, Panama. He came back to Air Force headquarters in August 1989 as assistant deputy chief of staff, programs and resources, and in March 1991 became director of manpower and organization. He assumed his present position in August 1991. The general is a command pilot with more than 5,500 flying hours, including 200 combat missions over Laos, North Vietnam and South Vietnam. Fighter aircraft he has flown include the F-4, F-15, F-16, F-51 and F-84. His military awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters. He was promoted to lieutenant general Aug. 2, 1991, with same date of rank. (Current as of September 1991)