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| News > Key leader in Air Force nuclear enterprise passes away |
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Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley presents the 2010 Eugene M. Zuckert Management Award to Charles Henderson during a ceremony in the Pentagon, June 29, 2011. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Andy Morataya)
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Key leader in Air Force nuclear enterprise passes away
Posted 5/4/2012
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5/4/2012 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A top Air Force senior advisor and leader involved in the integration of nuclear capabilities into Air Force, as well as joint and coalition, operations passed away May 3 following a lengthy illness.
Charles R. "Ron" Henderson, the deputy assistant chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration, died in Clifton, Va., at the age of 64.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz described Henderson as a man of tremendous loyalty and nobility--a leader who "brought calm to the boardroom and the battlefield."
"Ron Henderson was a tremendous leader and a great American," Schwartz said. "Both in uniform and as a senior civilian, he epitomized all that is great about our Air Force. On behalf of all Airmen, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Ron's family and friends."
Henderson was recently presented the 2010 Eugene M. Zuckert Management Award by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. Henderson had re-infused a culture of continuous improvement, and attention to detail and discipline, that increased the nation's security and strengthened deterrence, Donley said during the award ceremony.
A command pilot with more than 3,800 flying hours in training, bomber and tanker aircraft, Henderson was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1970 following graduation from the University of Tennessee.
He began his active-duty career as a B-52 Stratofortress pilot and went on to hold positions that included quality insurance officer, instructor pilot, flight commander, operations officer, and a military assistant to an assistant deputy under secretary of defense.
He commanded a bomb squadron in North Dakota, a bomb wing in Kansas, a bomb wing in South Dakota, and a wing in Texas. He was also the commanding general of the Combined Task Force Operation Provide Comfort at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.
During his active-duty career, Henderson also held positions in the Pentagon that included chief of the nuclear operations and command and control division on the Joint Staff, as well as deputy director of operational requirements, director for command and control, and director of operations and training on the Air Staff.
His last active duty assignment took Henderson to Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., where he was the director of plans and policy for U.S. Strategic Command. He retired from military service in 2000 as an Air Force major general.
Henderson then spent more than seven years in private industry, working in areas dealing with national security-related issues, programs and initiatives.
In 2008, Henderson came back to the Air Force in a civilian capacity as the senior advisor to the director of nuclear operations. He was soon promoted to his final duty position, in which he continued his service to the Air Force as a senior advisor to the Air Force secretary and chief of staff.
Henderson is survived by his wife Linda, children Andrew, Robin and Chris, and six grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held May 7, 2012, at 1 p.m. at Fairfax Baptist Temple, 6401 Missionary Lane, Fairfax, Va., with visitation beginning prior to the service at 11 a.m.
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