Lieutenant General Joseph R. DeLuca is the comptroller of the Air Force. He is responsible for directing financial and management programs of budgeting, accounting and finance, statistical reporting, data automation, audit and management analysis.
General DeLuca was born in Greenville, Pa., in 1918. He graduated from John Hay High School, 1936; attended the Professional School of Accounting and Finance, and in 1938 became an instructor there in accounting, auditing, economics and taxes; and attended Cleveland College, Western Reserve University, in 1946. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Maryland, 1962, and a master's degree in international affairs from The George Washington University, 1963.
General DeLuca entered military service in the Army Air Corps as a private in February 1942. After attending Officers Candidate School, Miami Beach, Fla., he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps Reserve in December 1942. He then served with the 307th Service Group, Air Depot Training Station, Will Rogers Field, Okla., and later became commanding officer, Recruit Training Detachment, Woodward, Okla. He was transferred to Barksdale Field, La., in May 1943, and assigned to the 44th Service Group as operations officer.
He was assigned in June 1943 as air technical supply officer and statistical officer with the 43d Air Depot Group, Air Depot Training Station, Albuquerque, N.M. He accompanied the 43d Group to England in September 1943 and was subsequently assigned to the Third Tactical Air Depot, Eighth Air Force. During the remainder of World War II, he served as a supply officer in the Eighth Air Force and later, as deputy chief of supply for the Ninth Air Force Service Command in the European Theater of Operations. He participated in the Central Europe, Northern France, and Rhineland campaigns.
Geheral DeLuca returned to the United States in August 1946 and reverted to inactive duty in November, but was recalled in March 1947 and attended the Aviation Ordnance Course, Lowry Field, Colo. In May 1947 he was assigned as accountable supply officer of the 4145th Army Air Forces Base Unit (Air Base), Air Materiel Command, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., and later was director of supply. In August 1949 he joined the Supply Division, Headquarters Air Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he filled various policy, requirements, and distribution assignments.
In November 1952 General DeLuca was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he served as a member of the Planning Staff to the director, Defense Supply Management Agency; in December 1953 joined the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Supply and Logistics) as acting staff director, Cataloging Division, and in April 1954 was appointed staff director. He graduated from the Air War College in June 1957 and then was named director of supply for Air Materiel Forces, Pacific Area, Air Materiel Command, at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
General DeLuca was transferred to the Armed Forces Supply Support Center, Washington, D.C., in October 1958 as chief, Analysis Staff, and in June 1961 became deputy director of the Supply Support Center, which became a part of the Defense Supply Agency; and he was assigned as deputy executive director of logistics plans and systems in January 1962. Four months later, he was named director, Office of Supply Management Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations and Logistics). As an additional duty, he was appointed cost reduction coordinator for the Department of Defense in September 1963. General DeLuca was named deputy commander of Ogden Air Materiel Area (Air Force Logistics Command) with headquarters at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, in August 1964.
He went to Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in August 1965 where he served as assistant deputy chief of staff, supply; in August 1967 was named deputy chief of staff, supply; in August 1969 became commander of advanced logistics system center; and in February 1970 assumed duties as deputy chief of staff, comptroller.
General DeLuca was appointed as director of the budget, Office of the Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in July 1971 and became the comptroller of the Air Force in October 1973. He is a member of Board of Directors, Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
For his outstanding contribution to Air Force logistics management, General DeLuca was presented the Eugene M. Zuckert Management Award by Dr. Harold Brown, secretary of the Air Force, in 1968. He directed the implementation of advanced techniques utilizing electronic data processing, high speed communications, and airlift of critical items which enabled the Air Force to meet increased supply demands of Southeast Asia within manpower and budgetary constraints. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.
His hometown is Greenville, Pa.
He was promoted to the grade of lieutenant general effective Oct. 1, 1973, with date of rank Sept. 26, 1973.
(Current as of Nov. 1, 1973)