MAJOR GENERAL DAVID L. GRAY
Major General David L. Gray is commandant, Air War College, with additional duty as vice commander, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
General Gray was born in 1930, in Portland, Ore. He graduated from Twin Falls High School, Twin Falls, Idaho, then attended Idaho State University, Pocatello. General Gray has a bachelor of science degree from the University of Colorado and a master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University. He is a distinguished graduate of both the Air Command and Staff College and Air War College.
General Gray entered active military duty as an aviation cadet in September 1950. He graduated from pilot training at Craig Air Force Base, Ala., in October 1951 as a distinguished graduate and with a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He then completed combat crew training.
In January 1952 General Gray was assigned as a fighter pilot with the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing, in South Korea, and flew 62 combat missions in the F-51.
From January 1953 to January 1957, General Gray was assigned as a fighter pilot to the 4750th Training Squadron at Yuma Air Force Base, Ariz., which later become the Air Defense Weapons Training Center. During this period he attended Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and performed a variety of additional duties at squadron, group and wing levels. In February 1957 General Gray entered the University of Colorado, Boulder, under the Air Force Institute of Technology program and received his bachelor of science degree in September 1958.
General Gray then reported to the 6950th Radio Group (mobile) in Great Britain and served as personnel officer until his entry into the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in September 1961.
From July 1962 to August 1967, General Gray was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., for duty with the Air Force Technical Applications Center in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, where he held positions in personnel, plans and program areas. During this period he also earned a master's degree from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. In August 1967 he entered the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
General Gray was assigned to Headquarters Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, in July 1968 as war plans officer and later became special assistant for projects to the deputy chief of staff, operations. In July 1969 he was transferred to Headquarters Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he served as plans officer and later as chief, War Plans Branch. In August 1970 he become special assistant to the deputy chief of staff, operations, and was involved with several special projects, including the development of the Allied Command Europe Tactical Air Control System and related North Atlantic Treaty Organization air force conceptual and development programs.
In July 1971 General Gray was assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Belgium, as the chief of the Air Section, Operations Division, and was involved with all operational, doctrinal and conceptual aspects of the combat readiness of the national air forces committed for assignment to Allied Command Europe. In January 1973 he become executive officer to the chief of staff, SHAPE. In July 1974 he returned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force and was assigned as the executive officer to the chief of staff, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
General Gray commanded the 47th Air Division with headquarters at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., from August 1976 until November 1977, when he transferred to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to command the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division. He become deputy chief of staff, plans, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Oct. 29, 1978. In August 1979 he assumed his present position.
He is a command pilot. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon with two oak leaf clusters and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
He was promoted to major general July 1, 1977, with date of rank May 1, 1974.
General Gray's hometown is Twin Falls, Idaho.
(Current as of October 1979)
General Gray was born in 1930, in Portland, Ore. He graduated from Twin Falls High School, Twin Falls, Idaho, then attended Idaho State University, Pocatello. General Gray has a bachelor of science degree from the University of Colorado and a master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University. He is a distinguished graduate of both the Air Command and Staff College and Air War College.
General Gray entered active military duty as an aviation cadet in September 1950. He graduated from pilot training at Craig Air Force Base, Ala., in October 1951 as a distinguished graduate and with a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He then completed combat crew training.
In January 1952 General Gray was assigned as a fighter pilot with the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing, in South Korea, and flew 62 combat missions in the F-51.
From January 1953 to January 1957, General Gray was assigned as a fighter pilot to the 4750th Training Squadron at Yuma Air Force Base, Ariz., which later become the Air Defense Weapons Training Center. During this period he attended Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and performed a variety of additional duties at squadron, group and wing levels. In February 1957 General Gray entered the University of Colorado, Boulder, under the Air Force Institute of Technology program and received his bachelor of science degree in September 1958.
General Gray then reported to the 6950th Radio Group (mobile) in Great Britain and served as personnel officer until his entry into the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in September 1961.
From July 1962 to August 1967, General Gray was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., for duty with the Air Force Technical Applications Center in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, where he held positions in personnel, plans and program areas. During this period he also earned a master's degree from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. In August 1967 he entered the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
General Gray was assigned to Headquarters Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, in July 1968 as war plans officer and later became special assistant for projects to the deputy chief of staff, operations. In July 1969 he was transferred to Headquarters Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he served as plans officer and later as chief, War Plans Branch. In August 1970 he become special assistant to the deputy chief of staff, operations, and was involved with several special projects, including the development of the Allied Command Europe Tactical Air Control System and related North Atlantic Treaty Organization air force conceptual and development programs.
In July 1971 General Gray was assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Belgium, as the chief of the Air Section, Operations Division, and was involved with all operational, doctrinal and conceptual aspects of the combat readiness of the national air forces committed for assignment to Allied Command Europe. In January 1973 he become executive officer to the chief of staff, SHAPE. In July 1974 he returned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force and was assigned as the executive officer to the chief of staff, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
General Gray commanded the 47th Air Division with headquarters at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., from August 1976 until November 1977, when he transferred to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to command the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division. He become deputy chief of staff, plans, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Oct. 29, 1978. In August 1979 he assumed his present position.
He is a command pilot. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon with two oak leaf clusters and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
He was promoted to major general July 1, 1977, with date of rank May 1, 1974.
General Gray's hometown is Twin Falls, Idaho.
(Current as of October 1979)