BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM O. WELCH
Brig. Gen. William O. Welch is Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (UCJ3), U.S. Forces Korea, United Nations Command, Yongsan Army Garrison, South Korea.
General Welch, a prior enlisted Airman, served as a security policeman from 1975 to 1979, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. He graduated from Boston University and was was commissioned in 1982 through Officer Training School. The general entered the Air Force Reserve as a weapons system officer. When the F-4 aircraft was retired, he returned to being an Air Force security policeman.
The general commanded two security forces squadrons and became the Director of Security Forces at both the numbered air force and major command levels. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he led the security forces team responsible for developing the long-haul air base security plan for all Air Force installations. He was later activated and deployed as vice wing commander and then Commander, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing. His unit completed the largest RED HORSE air base construction ever attempted up to that date. General Welch accumulated more than 1,000 hours, including 100 hours of combat flying time. In his civilian capacity, he is a businessman who has served as president and CEO of several companies.
EDUCATION
1981 Bachelor of Applied Science degree, cum laude, Boston University
1993 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1995 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1997 Introduction to Special Operations, USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1997 Dynamics of International Terrorism, USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1997 Middle East Orientation Course, USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1998 Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La.
1999 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2000 Air War College, by correspondence
2002 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2007 Commander Air Force Forces Senior Staff Course, McGuire AFB, N.J.
2009 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1982 - June 1983, student, undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather AFB, Calif.
2. June 1983 - September 1983, student, fighter lead-in training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3. November 1983 - June 1984, student, F-4 Replacement Training Unit, McConnell AFB, Kan.
4. June 1984 - November 1992, weapons system officer and instructor navigator, 704th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
5. November 1992 - December 1993, Air Force Reserve Command Ground Combat Readiness Center, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
6. December 1993 - August 1995, Commander, 924th Security Police Squadron, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
7. August 1995 - October 1998, Deputy Commander, 610th Security Forces Squadron, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas
8. October 1998 - August 2000, Director of Security Forces, Headquarters 10th Air Force, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas (January 1999 - April 1999, Defense Force Commander, 9th Air Expeditionary Group, Southwest Asia)
9. October 1999 - January 2000, Deputy Director of Operations Force Protection, USCENTAF, Headquarters 9th Air Force, Shaw AFB, S.C.
10. August 2000 - March 2004, IMA to Director of Security Forces, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas (December 2002 - May 2003, Vice Commander, later, Commander, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia)
11. March 2004 - April 2007, IMA to Director of Plans, Requirements and Programs, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas
12. April 2007 - November 2010, mobilization assistant to the Commander, Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service, Randolph AFB, Texas (April 2009 - August 2009, Vice Commander, Headquarters AFRS; July 2010 - October 2010, Commander, Headquarters AFRS)
13. November 2010 - present, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (UCJ3), U.S. Forces Korea, United Nations Command, Yongsan Army Garrison, South Korea
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior navigator
Flight hours: More than 1,000
Aircraft flown: F-4 D/E, T-38, T-37 and T-43
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service ribbon with Gold Border
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with oak leaf cluster, hourglass and "M" device
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Nov. 4, 1982
First Lieutenant Nov. 2, 1985
Captain Oct. 16, 1987
Major March 10, 1994
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 18, 1998
Colonel Feb. 27, 2002
Brigadier General Feb. 2, 2010
(Current as of May 2011)
General Welch, a prior enlisted Airman, served as a security policeman from 1975 to 1979, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. He graduated from Boston University and was was commissioned in 1982 through Officer Training School. The general entered the Air Force Reserve as a weapons system officer. When the F-4 aircraft was retired, he returned to being an Air Force security policeman.
The general commanded two security forces squadrons and became the Director of Security Forces at both the numbered air force and major command levels. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he led the security forces team responsible for developing the long-haul air base security plan for all Air Force installations. He was later activated and deployed as vice wing commander and then Commander, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing. His unit completed the largest RED HORSE air base construction ever attempted up to that date. General Welch accumulated more than 1,000 hours, including 100 hours of combat flying time. In his civilian capacity, he is a businessman who has served as president and CEO of several companies.
EDUCATION
1981 Bachelor of Applied Science degree, cum laude, Boston University
1993 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1995 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1997 Introduction to Special Operations, USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1997 Dynamics of International Terrorism, USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1997 Middle East Orientation Course, USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1998 Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La.
1999 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2000 Air War College, by correspondence
2002 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2007 Commander Air Force Forces Senior Staff Course, McGuire AFB, N.J.
2009 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1982 - June 1983, student, undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather AFB, Calif.
2. June 1983 - September 1983, student, fighter lead-in training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3. November 1983 - June 1984, student, F-4 Replacement Training Unit, McConnell AFB, Kan.
4. June 1984 - November 1992, weapons system officer and instructor navigator, 704th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
5. November 1992 - December 1993, Air Force Reserve Command Ground Combat Readiness Center, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
6. December 1993 - August 1995, Commander, 924th Security Police Squadron, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
7. August 1995 - October 1998, Deputy Commander, 610th Security Forces Squadron, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas
8. October 1998 - August 2000, Director of Security Forces, Headquarters 10th Air Force, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas (January 1999 - April 1999, Defense Force Commander, 9th Air Expeditionary Group, Southwest Asia)
9. October 1999 - January 2000, Deputy Director of Operations Force Protection, USCENTAF, Headquarters 9th Air Force, Shaw AFB, S.C.
10. August 2000 - March 2004, IMA to Director of Security Forces, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas (December 2002 - May 2003, Vice Commander, later, Commander, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia)
11. March 2004 - April 2007, IMA to Director of Plans, Requirements and Programs, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas
12. April 2007 - November 2010, mobilization assistant to the Commander, Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service, Randolph AFB, Texas (April 2009 - August 2009, Vice Commander, Headquarters AFRS; July 2010 - October 2010, Commander, Headquarters AFRS)
13. November 2010 - present, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (UCJ3), U.S. Forces Korea, United Nations Command, Yongsan Army Garrison, South Korea
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior navigator
Flight hours: More than 1,000
Aircraft flown: F-4 D/E, T-38, T-37 and T-43
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service ribbon with Gold Border
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with oak leaf cluster, hourglass and "M" device
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Nov. 4, 1982
First Lieutenant Nov. 2, 1985
Captain Oct. 16, 1987
Major March 10, 1994
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 18, 1998
Colonel Feb. 27, 2002
Brigadier General Feb. 2, 2010
(Current as of May 2011)