General JIMMIE V. ADAMS

General Jimmie V. Adams is commander in chief, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. He has responsibility for Air Force activities spread over half the world in a command that supports 51,000 Air Force people serving at 12 major locations, principally in Hawaii, Alaska, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Guam.

General Adams was born in Prichard, Ala., in 1936. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University in 1957 and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas in 1963. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1964, Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1978 and the Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course in 1987.

He was commissioned in the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program and entered active duty in January 1958. Upon completion of pilot training at Webb Air Force Base, Texas, General Adams flew with the 437th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Oxnard Air Force Base, Calif., until January 1962. After receiving his master's degree, the general was assigned as an engineer and test pilot with the Air Force Weapons Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., from August 1963 to May 1966.

The general then served as an F-4 aircraft commander, fighter weapons instructor and flight commander with the 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Woodbridge, England. In August 1969 he was assigned as an F-4 aircraft commander to the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron and, later, as chief, tactics officer, for the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. From August 1970 to June 1973 he was a member of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps staff at Auburn University. He then transferred to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., as a requirements officer.

He was assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., in June 1975 as commander of the 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and then as special assistant to the deputy commander for operations with the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, also at Seymour Johnson. After graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in July 1978, General Adams served as deputy chief, then as chief, of the Tactical Requirements Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

In November 1979 he returned to TAC headquarters as assistant deputy chief of staff for requirements and remained there until assuming command of the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, England Air Force Base, La., in March 1981. General Adams was assigned as deputy director for operations and training, plans and operations, Air Force headquarters, from April 1983 until February 1984. He then became special assistant for tactical modernization, research, development and acquisition. He was assigned as deputy chief of staff, requirements, TAC headquarters, in August 1985, and assumed command of the 1st Air Force at Langley in July 1987. In July 1988 the general was assigned as TAC vice commander and vice commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces Atlantic. The general became deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, Air Force headquarters, in March 1989. He assumed his present command in February 1991.

The general is a command pilot with more than 3,800 flying hours, including 141 combat missions. He has flown numerous fighter aircraft, including the A-10, F-4, F-15, F-86, F-89, F-100, F-101 and F-104.

His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.

He was promoted to general Feb. 13, 1991, with same date of rank.

(Current as of April 1991)