GENERAL JACK I. GREGORY
General Jack I. Gregory is commander in chief, Pacific Air Forces, with headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. He has the responsibility for Air Force activities spread over half the world in a command that supports 60,000 Air Force personnel serving at 10 major locations, principally in Hawaii, the Republic of Korea, Japan and the Republic of the Philippines.
General Gregory was born in Somerset, Ky., in 1931, where he graduated from Somerset High School in 1949. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Kentucky in 1953 and a master's degree in public administration from The George Washington University in 1964. The general is a 1964 graduate of Air Command and Staff College and a 1974 distinguished graduate of the Air War College.
He began his military career in June 1953 with a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. General Gregory entered primary pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., and received his wings in July 1954 at Greenville Air Force Base, Miss. His first operational assignment began in December 1954, when he was assigned to the Far East air forces, flying F-86s at Suwon Air Base, South Korea, and Misawa Air Base, Japan. Returning to the United States in December 1957, he instructed in F-86s at Perrin Air Force Base, Texas, until August 1963.
After graduation from Air Command and Staff College in August 1964, he was assigned to the 337th Fighter Group, Portland International Airport, Ore., flying F-102s. The following year, General Gregory was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., flying F-4C's with the 4454th Combat Crew Training Squadron.
In May 1966 he was assigned to the 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bitburg Air Base, West Germany, as an F-4D flight commander. In August 1968 he became operations officer of the 23rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Bitburg and remained in that position when the squadron moved to Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany.
In September 1969 General Gregory transferred to the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he served first as operations officer, and then became commander of the F-4D combat unit. During this tour of duty, he completed more than 250 combat missions.
From November 1970 to August 1973 he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., working international political military affairs for Southeast Asia, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations. After graduation from the Air War College in June 1974, General Gregory was assigned as deputy commander for operations of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., flying F-4E's.
In July 1975 he became vice commander of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and was named wing commander in August 1976. During this period General Gregory led the conversion of that Air Training Command base to a Tactical Air Command asset. Three new F-4E tactical fighter squadrons were activated and brought to combat-ready status.
In October 1978 he was assigned to command what is now the 831st Air Division at George Air Force Base, Calif., where he was responsible for the Wild Weasel Defense Suppression Forces flying F-4C's, F-4E's, F-105G's and F-4G's. He became assistant deputy chief of staff for operations at Tactical Air Command headquarters, Langley Air Force Base, Va., in March 1980 and also served as director of operations for the Air Force Forces of the Rapid Deployment Force.
In June 1981 General Gregory transferred to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as commander of the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center. While there, he converted the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds, to F-16s. He also was responsible for the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, the Aggressors, Red Flag exercises, fighter testing and tactics development programs, and the operations of A-10s, F-15s, F-16s, F-4s, F-111s, F-5s, A-7s and T-38s.
General Gregory became commander of the 12th Air Force at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, in June 1983. In that position he was responsible for 13 tactical wings made up of 50,000 personnel and 1,100 aircraft, including F-4E/G's, F-15A/B's, F-16A/B/C/D's, F-5B/D/E's, RF-4C's, A-10s, F-111A/D's, EF-111s, T-38s, OA-37s and OV-10s. He also held advisory, evaluation and inspection responsibilities for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve TAC-gained units, which included an additional 25,000 personnel and 550 aircraft.
In June 1985 the general was assigned as the deputy commander, U.S. Forces Korea, with headquarters in Seoul. He concurrently held the position of deputy commander, United Nations Command; chief of staff of the Republic of Korea and U.S. Combined Forces Command; commander of the Republic of Korea and U.S. Air Component Command; and senior U.S. representative to the committee for the Status of Forces Agreement.
In a realignment in September 1986, he assumed command of the newly activated 7th Air Force at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, while also serving as deputy commander, U.S. Forces Korea; deputy commander in chief, United Nations Command; commander of Air Component Command; and commander of U.S. Air Forces Korea. He assumed his present command in December 1986.
The general is a command pilot with almost 7,000 flying hours in tactical fighter aircraft. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.
He was promoted to general Jan. 1, 1987, with same date of rank.
(Current as of December 1987)
General Gregory was born in Somerset, Ky., in 1931, where he graduated from Somerset High School in 1949. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Kentucky in 1953 and a master's degree in public administration from The George Washington University in 1964. The general is a 1964 graduate of Air Command and Staff College and a 1974 distinguished graduate of the Air War College.
He began his military career in June 1953 with a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. General Gregory entered primary pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., and received his wings in July 1954 at Greenville Air Force Base, Miss. His first operational assignment began in December 1954, when he was assigned to the Far East air forces, flying F-86s at Suwon Air Base, South Korea, and Misawa Air Base, Japan. Returning to the United States in December 1957, he instructed in F-86s at Perrin Air Force Base, Texas, until August 1963.
After graduation from Air Command and Staff College in August 1964, he was assigned to the 337th Fighter Group, Portland International Airport, Ore., flying F-102s. The following year, General Gregory was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., flying F-4C's with the 4454th Combat Crew Training Squadron.
In May 1966 he was assigned to the 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bitburg Air Base, West Germany, as an F-4D flight commander. In August 1968 he became operations officer of the 23rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Bitburg and remained in that position when the squadron moved to Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany.
In September 1969 General Gregory transferred to the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he served first as operations officer, and then became commander of the F-4D combat unit. During this tour of duty, he completed more than 250 combat missions.
From November 1970 to August 1973 he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., working international political military affairs for Southeast Asia, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations. After graduation from the Air War College in June 1974, General Gregory was assigned as deputy commander for operations of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., flying F-4E's.
In July 1975 he became vice commander of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and was named wing commander in August 1976. During this period General Gregory led the conversion of that Air Training Command base to a Tactical Air Command asset. Three new F-4E tactical fighter squadrons were activated and brought to combat-ready status.
In October 1978 he was assigned to command what is now the 831st Air Division at George Air Force Base, Calif., where he was responsible for the Wild Weasel Defense Suppression Forces flying F-4C's, F-4E's, F-105G's and F-4G's. He became assistant deputy chief of staff for operations at Tactical Air Command headquarters, Langley Air Force Base, Va., in March 1980 and also served as director of operations for the Air Force Forces of the Rapid Deployment Force.
In June 1981 General Gregory transferred to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as commander of the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center. While there, he converted the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds, to F-16s. He also was responsible for the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, the Aggressors, Red Flag exercises, fighter testing and tactics development programs, and the operations of A-10s, F-15s, F-16s, F-4s, F-111s, F-5s, A-7s and T-38s.
General Gregory became commander of the 12th Air Force at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, in June 1983. In that position he was responsible for 13 tactical wings made up of 50,000 personnel and 1,100 aircraft, including F-4E/G's, F-15A/B's, F-16A/B/C/D's, F-5B/D/E's, RF-4C's, A-10s, F-111A/D's, EF-111s, T-38s, OA-37s and OV-10s. He also held advisory, evaluation and inspection responsibilities for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve TAC-gained units, which included an additional 25,000 personnel and 550 aircraft.
In June 1985 the general was assigned as the deputy commander, U.S. Forces Korea, with headquarters in Seoul. He concurrently held the position of deputy commander, United Nations Command; chief of staff of the Republic of Korea and U.S. Combined Forces Command; commander of the Republic of Korea and U.S. Air Component Command; and senior U.S. representative to the committee for the Status of Forces Agreement.
In a realignment in September 1986, he assumed command of the newly activated 7th Air Force at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, while also serving as deputy commander, U.S. Forces Korea; deputy commander in chief, United Nations Command; commander of Air Component Command; and commander of U.S. Air Forces Korea. He assumed his present command in December 1986.
The general is a command pilot with almost 7,000 flying hours in tactical fighter aircraft. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.
He was promoted to general Jan. 1, 1987, with same date of rank.
(Current as of December 1987)