Brigadier General CHARLES L. BISHOP

Brigadier General Charles L. Bishop is deputy chief of staff for intelligence, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and commander, 7455th Tactical Intelligence Wing, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany.

General Bishop was born in Cedar Mountain, N.C., in 1938, and graduated from nearby Brevard High School in 1956. He earned a bachelor's degree in Soviet history and languages from Oklahoma State University in 1966 and a master of science degree in political science from Auburn University in 1974. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1966, Air Command and Staff College in 1974, and National War College in 1978.

The general enlisted in the Air Force in 1959 and after basic training attended Russian language training at Syracuse (N.Y.) University. He completed advanced training and then was assigned to the 6937th Communications Group, Peshawar, Pakistan, from May 1960 to September 1961.

He was commissioned through the Officer Candidate School program in March 1962 and was assigned to Zweibrucken Air Base, West Germany, where he served in various intelligence data automation positions with the 6901st Special Communications Group. In July 1965 General Bishop transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force Security Service, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, as chief of the Support Branch, Automatic Data Processing Center.

The general was assigned to the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, Otis Air Force Base, Mass., in March 1967. He deployed with the wing to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, serving as both an EC-121 crewmember and chief of the wing's Combat Intelligence Standardization and Evaluation Section.

In October 1968 General Bishop transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as an intelligence data handling systems staff officer. In June 1971 he was assigned to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, as chief, Palace Sentinel, Air Force Military Personnel Center. From July 1974 to August 1977 the general was director of special security for the North American Air Defense Command and the Aerospace Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Colo. He also served as special adviser for space systems to the commander in chief of NORAD. He then attended National War College and, upon graduating, received the first Air Force Association Award for excellence in research and writing.

In July 1978 General Bishop returned to U.S. Air Force Security Service headquarters as director of inspection, Office of the Inspector General. He assumed command of the 6993rd Electronic Security Squadron in September 1979 and also served as chief of the Consolidated Security Operations Center, both located at Medina Annex, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

From August 1980 to May 1982 General Bishop was assigned as the inspector general for Electronic Security Command. He then became commander of the 6912th Electronic Security Group, Tempelhof Central Airport, Berlin, with units throughout Berlin and West Germany.

He was assigned to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, in June 1983 and served as commander of Headquarters Electronic Security Pacific with responsibility for all Electronic Security Command operations in the Pacific area. He transferred to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., in November 1984 as deputy chief of staff for intelligence. In June 1987 the general became deputy chief of staff for intelligence (J-2), U.S. Forces Korea/United Nations Command, and deputy assistant chief of staff for intelligence (C-2), Combined Forces Command, Seoul, Korea. He assumed his present duties in July 1989.

The general has more than 1,200 flying hours in the EC-121, EC-130, RC-135 and E-3A. His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Good Conduct Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He wears the Officer Aircrew Member and Senior Space Operations badges.

He was promoted to brigadier general Nov. 1, 1987, with same date of rank.

(Current as of July 1990)