Major General Lawrence E. Day is deputy chief of staff for technical training, Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He is responsible for command policy and management of training for more than 350 specialties, taught through more than 6,200 courses each year. This includes technical training, as well as all enlisted basic military training in the Air Force.
General Day was born in Lowell, Mass., in 1941, where he graduated from Keith Academy in 1959. He earned a bachelor of science degree in basic and applied science from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1963 and a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972. He completed Armed Forces Staff College in 1974 and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Defense College in 1980.
Upon graduation from the academy in June 1963, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He completed pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., and received wings in August 1964. He then was assigned to the 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., where he flew F-4s. In March 1966 General Day deployed with his squadron to Phan Rang and Da Nang air bases, South Vietnam, where he flew more than 220 combat missions.
He then flew F-4s with the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany, from February 1967 until July 1968, when he became a standardization and evaluation pilot with the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing, Bitburg Air Base, West Germany. In May 1970 he entered Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated with a master's degree in January 1972.
The general then was assigned as an instructor and associate professor in the aeronautics department of the Air Force Academy until January 1974. He completed the Armed Forces Staff College in July 1974 and was assigned to the 314th Air Division, Osan Air Base, South Korea, as chief of operations and training. In July 1975 he was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., as chief of the Ground Attack Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Requirements. From January 1978 to January 1980 he served as commander of the 311th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
After completing the NATO Defense College in Rome in July 1980, General Day was assigned as director of the Air-Land Forces Applications Office, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Army in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany. In June 1981 he transferred to Headquarters Allied Air Forces Central Europe as assistant chief of staff, Air Operations Center, Boerfink, West Germany.
He became executive officer to the commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe in June 1982. He was assigned as vice commander of the 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, in July 1984 and became wing commander in April 1985. In June 1987 he became assistant deputy chief of staff for operations, Tactical Air Command headquarters. He became commander of Chanute Technical Training Center, Chanute Air Force Base, Ill., in January 1990. He assumed his present position in November 1991.
The general is a command pilot with more than 2,900 flying hours. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 12 oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal.
He was promoted to major general Jan. 1, 1990, with same date of rank.
(Current as of January 1992)