LIEUTENANT GENERAL ROBERT C. HINSON
Lt. Gen. Robert C. Hinson is Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. He assists the Commander in the development, acquisition and operation of the Air Forces space and missile systems. General Hinson also directs and coordinates the activities of the staff. The command organizes, trains and equips all Air Force space and missile forces; oversees a global network of satellite command and control, communications, missile warning and launch facilities; and ensures the combat readiness of Americas intercontinental ballistic missile force. The command is comprised of more than 39,700 space professionals who provide combat forces and capabilities to North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Strategic Command.
General Hinson received a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Tennessee in 1970. He enlisted and served one year as an administrative specialist before receiving a commission from Officer Training School in 1971. General Hinson commanded many units including a bomb squadron, operations group, tactics and training wing, bomb wing, space wing and numbered air force. He has served as assistant deputy commander of operations for a bombardment wing, as vice commander for a tactics and training wing, and as deputy director of plans and programs and director of operations for major commands. Additionally, General Hinson was assigned to the Joint Staff where he served with the Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy. Prior to assuming his current position, he was Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command. General Hinson is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, primarily in bomber aircraft.
EDUCATION
1970 Bachelor of science degree in education, University of Tennessee
1977 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1977 Master of arts degree in humanities and education, Arkansas State University
1982 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1989 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
1993 Program for Senior Officials in National Security, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1970 - September 1970, student, basic military training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. September 1970 - May 1971, administrative specialist, 379th Aeromedical Airlift Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
3. May 1971 - July 1971, officer trainee, Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
4. July 1971 - August 1972, student, undergraduate pilot training, Craig Air Force Base, Ala.
5. September 1972 - March 1973, student, B-52 training, 4017th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Castle Air Force Base, Calif.
6. March 1973 - December 1977, B-52 co-pilot, aircraft commander and instructor pilot, 97th Bombardment Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark.
7. December 1977 - December 1978, Air Staff Training Program officer, Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. December 1978 - June 1979, student, FB-111 training, 4007th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y.
9. July 1979 - September 1982, FB-111 pilot, instructor pilot and flight evaluator, 529th Bomb Squadron, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y.
10. September 1982 - April 1986, FB-111 Program Element Monitor, later, Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, later, Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff, later, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander in Chief of Strategic Air Command, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
11. April 1986 - August 1988, student, FB-111 requalification training, 530th Combat Crew Training Squadron, later, Commander, 529th Bomb Squadron, later, Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations, 380th Bombardment Wing, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y.
12. August 1988 - June 1989, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
13. June 1989 - July 1991, Chief, Strategic Nuclear Policy Branch, later, Executive Officer, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
14. July 1991 - June 1993, Commander, 99th Operations and Maintenance Group, later, Vice Commander, later, Commander, 99th Tactics and Training Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
15. June 1993 - November 1994, Deputy Director of Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
16. December 1994 - August 1995, Commander, 28th Bomb Wing and Installation Commander, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
17. August 1995 - March 1997, Commander, 45th Space Wing and Director, Eastern Range, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
18. March 1997 - May 1999, Director of Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
19. May 1999 - June 2000, Commander, 14th Air Force, and Component Commander, U.S. Air Force Space Operations, U.S. Space Command, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
20. June 2000 April 2002, Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
21. April 2002 present, Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,000
Aircraft flown: B-52F/G/H, FB-111 and B-1B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with service star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jul 30,1971
First Lieutenant Jan 30, 1973
Captain Jul 30,1975
Major May 1,1983
Lieutenant Colonel Mar 1, 1986
Colonel Oct 1, 1989
Brigadier General Sep 1,1995
Major General Aug. 1, 1998
Lieutenant General Jul 1, 2000
(Current as of November 2002)
General Hinson received a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Tennessee in 1970. He enlisted and served one year as an administrative specialist before receiving a commission from Officer Training School in 1971. General Hinson commanded many units including a bomb squadron, operations group, tactics and training wing, bomb wing, space wing and numbered air force. He has served as assistant deputy commander of operations for a bombardment wing, as vice commander for a tactics and training wing, and as deputy director of plans and programs and director of operations for major commands. Additionally, General Hinson was assigned to the Joint Staff where he served with the Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy. Prior to assuming his current position, he was Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command. General Hinson is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, primarily in bomber aircraft.
EDUCATION
1970 Bachelor of science degree in education, University of Tennessee
1977 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1977 Master of arts degree in humanities and education, Arkansas State University
1982 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1989 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
1993 Program for Senior Officials in National Security, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1970 - September 1970, student, basic military training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. September 1970 - May 1971, administrative specialist, 379th Aeromedical Airlift Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
3. May 1971 - July 1971, officer trainee, Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
4. July 1971 - August 1972, student, undergraduate pilot training, Craig Air Force Base, Ala.
5. September 1972 - March 1973, student, B-52 training, 4017th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Castle Air Force Base, Calif.
6. March 1973 - December 1977, B-52 co-pilot, aircraft commander and instructor pilot, 97th Bombardment Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark.
7. December 1977 - December 1978, Air Staff Training Program officer, Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. December 1978 - June 1979, student, FB-111 training, 4007th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y.
9. July 1979 - September 1982, FB-111 pilot, instructor pilot and flight evaluator, 529th Bomb Squadron, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y.
10. September 1982 - April 1986, FB-111 Program Element Monitor, later, Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, later, Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff, later, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander in Chief of Strategic Air Command, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
11. April 1986 - August 1988, student, FB-111 requalification training, 530th Combat Crew Training Squadron, later, Commander, 529th Bomb Squadron, later, Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations, 380th Bombardment Wing, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y.
12. August 1988 - June 1989, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
13. June 1989 - July 1991, Chief, Strategic Nuclear Policy Branch, later, Executive Officer, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
14. July 1991 - June 1993, Commander, 99th Operations and Maintenance Group, later, Vice Commander, later, Commander, 99th Tactics and Training Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
15. June 1993 - November 1994, Deputy Director of Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
16. December 1994 - August 1995, Commander, 28th Bomb Wing and Installation Commander, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
17. August 1995 - March 1997, Commander, 45th Space Wing and Director, Eastern Range, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
18. March 1997 - May 1999, Director of Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
19. May 1999 - June 2000, Commander, 14th Air Force, and Component Commander, U.S. Air Force Space Operations, U.S. Space Command, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
20. June 2000 April 2002, Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
21. April 2002 present, Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,000
Aircraft flown: B-52F/G/H, FB-111 and B-1B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with service star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jul 30,1971
First Lieutenant Jan 30, 1973
Captain Jul 30,1975
Major May 1,1983
Lieutenant Colonel Mar 1, 1986
Colonel Oct 1, 1989
Brigadier General Sep 1,1995
Major General Aug. 1, 1998
Lieutenant General Jul 1, 2000
(Current as of November 2002)