Major General Frank E. Willis is deputy chief of staff for requirements, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

General Willis was born in 1939, in Clinton, Ill., and graduated from Clinton Community High School in 1957. He earned a bachelor of military science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1961 and a master's degree in management from the University of Nebraska in 1973. The general completed Squadron Officer School in 1966, Armed Forces Staff College in 1970 and Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1978.

Upon graduating from the academy, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and awarded his navigator wings. He received his pilot wings after completing pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., in September 1962.

From March 1963 to January 1967 General Willis was assigned to the 305th Air Refueling Squadron at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Ind., as a KC-135 co-pilot. He then transferred to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron at March Air Force Base, Calif., and served as a KC-135 aircraft commander until December 1969. Upon graduating from the Armed Forces Staff College in June 1970, the general was assigned as a C-123 aircraft commander with the 315th Tactical Airlift Wing at Tan Son Nhut and Phan Rang air bases, South Vietnam.

When he returned to the United States in July 1971, General Willis was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. He initially served as chief of the Aircraft and Support Branch and subsequently became chief of the Programs and Requirements Division. From May 1974 to June 1977 he served as chief of the Evaluation and Testing Division at the Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

General Willis graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in June 1978 and joined the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., as assistant deputy commander for operations. In November 1978 he was appointed deputy commander of operations when the 314th Tactical Airlift Group was formed. He served as the unit commander from May 1979 to May 1980.

In June 1980 the general became vice commander of the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing at Clark Air Base, Philippines, and in June 1981 assumed command of the wing. General Willis returned to the United States in February 1983 and served as commander, U.S. Air Force Airlift Center and the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing, Pope Air Force Base, N.C. From March 1984 to June 1985 he was vice commander of the Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center and deputy assistant, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel for military personnel, Randolph Air Force Base. He then became Air Command and Staff College commandant, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. In June 1988 General Willis became vice commander, 22nd Air Force, Military Airlift Command, Travis Air Force Base, Calif. In August 1989 he began his duties as deputy chief of staff for requirements, Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Force Base. He assumed his current position in June 1992.

The general is a command pilot with more than 5,100 flying hours in the KC-135, C-123, T-39, C-130 and C-21, including more than 1,000 combat flying hours. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.

He was promoted to major general June 1, 1989, with same date of rank.

(Current as of February 2021)