Major General M. Gary Alkire is commander of the Air Force Commissary Service, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. The commissary provides food and related merchandise to the Air Force community through the operation of troop support and resale store activities throughout the Air Force.
General Alkire was born in Cleveland in 1935 and raised in Baltimore. He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1953, and earned a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1957 and a master of science degree in civil engineering from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., in 1963. The general completed Squadron Officer School in 1960, Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1966, Air Command and Staff College in 1971, and the Air War College in 1977.
Upon graduation from the academy, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He was initially assigned to Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., where he served three years as base civil engineering planning and programming officer. In February 1963, upon completion of graduate school, he was assigned to Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France, where he served two years as base civil engineering planning and programming officer, and one year as chief of the Engineering Division. The general then transferred to the Construction Division, Directorate of Civil Engineering, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. In January 1970 he began a one-year tour of duty in Southeast Asia at Headquarters Military Assistance Command, Republic of Vietnam, as chief of the Construction Operations and Management Branch, Lines of Communication Division.
General Alkire returned to the United States in February 1971 and was assigned to England Air Force Base, La., as commander of the 23rd Civil Engineering Squadron and base civil engineer. He returned to Washington, D.C., in January 1973 as chief of the Construction Division at Air Force headquarters.
From July 1975 to September 1978 he was assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany, as assistant deputy chief of staff for engineering and services. He then became deputy chief of staff, engineering and services, at Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. In March 1981 General Alkire transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and served as deputy chief of staff for engineering and services, Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command. He became deputy director of engineering and services, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Engineering, Air Force headquarters, in December 1982. He assumed his present duties in October 1984.
The general's military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with service star, Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Medal of Public Works Communication and Transportation Second Class from the Ministry of Public Works, Republic of Vietnam, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
During his military career he has been associated with the American Society of Civil Engineers, Society of American Military Engineers and Services Society. In 1979 General Alkire was recipient of the Society of American Military Engineers' Newman Medal for the most outstanding contribution to military engineering through achievement in design, construction, administration, research and development.
He was promoted to major general Jan. 31, 1985, with date of rank March 1, 1981.
(Current as of October 1989)