Lieutenant General Minter Alexander is the deputy assistant secretary of defense for military manpower and personnel policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.
General Alexander was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in 1940. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1962 and a master's degree in physics from Ohio State University in 1970. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1967, Air Command and Staff College in 1974, the National Security Management Course of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1975, Air War College in 1976 and National War College in 1978. The general also completed the Joint Flag Officer War Fighting Course in 1988 and the Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security in 1989.
He began his career flying KC-135s. He was assigned to the 916th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and, while there, flew 32 combat missions in Southeast Asia. In August 1967 he was assigned to the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam, as a forward air controller.
General Alexander returned to the United States to attend Ohio State University and, after graduating in June 1970, was assigned to the Air Force Academy as an assistant professor of physics. After completing Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in July 1974, he was assigned to the 912th Air Refueling Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., where he served as an aircraft commander, instructor pilot, squadron operations officer and squadron commander.
After graduating from the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in June 1978, General Alexander served as chief of the Air Force Academy Activities Group, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He then was transferred to Royal Air Force Station Fairford, England, first as deputy commander for operations and then as commander of the 11th Strategic Group.
In March 1982 the general was assigned to the 379th Bombardment Wing, Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich., as vice commander, and assumed command in June 1983. In March 1985 he returned to Air Force headquarters as assistant for general officer matters, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel. In July 1986 he was assigned to Strategic Air Command as commander of the 19th Air Division, Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. He returned to Air Force headquarters in June 1988 and served first as assistant chief of staff for studies and analyses, then as commander of the Air Force Center for Studies and Analysis. In September 1989 he became director of plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Air Force headquarters. He assumed his present position in August 1991.
The general is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, including 800 combat hours. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 18 oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal.
He was promoted to lieutenant general Aug. 2, 1991, with same date of rank.
(Current as of April 1992)