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| Information > Biographies > MAJOR GENERAL EDWIN A. COY |
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MAJOR GENERAL EDWIN A. COY
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Retired Dec. 1, 1980.
Died June 14, 2010.
Major General Edwin A. Coy is commander of the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division, Strategic Air Command, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
General Coy was born in 1927 in McKeesport, Penn. He enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from high school and served in the Ordnance Corps until August 1947. He received a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1950, holds master of science degrees in both engineering management and business administration from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and is a graduate of both the Air Command and Staff College and Air War College.
General Coy received a regular commission in the U.S. Air Force in 1950 us a distinguished military graduate of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. Upon completing the Armament Officer's Course at Lowry Air Force Base, Colo., he was assigned to the 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing, and served in the Korean War with the 136th and 8th Fighter-Bomber Wings for 13 months. From June 1952 to January 1954, he tested chemical warfare munitions at the Air Force Armament Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
Upon completing graduate school in August 1955, he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Ordnance in the Pentagon to provide technical direction on several Air Force-funded rocket and missile development programs.
In August 1957 General Coy Joined the Western Development Division, Inglewood, Calif., where he served us a member of the pioneer teams that developed and deployed the Thor and Minuteman I weapon systems.
Upon graduation from the Air Command and Staff College in June 1963, General Coy was assigned to the Defense Atomic Support Agency, Sandia Base, N.M., where he was responsible for developing a family of multistage rockets, launchers and blockhouse equipment to support the National Nuclear Readiness-to-Test Program.
General Coy graduated from the Air War College in June 1967 and was assigned to the Directorate of Operational Requirements and Development Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He served initially in the Aircraft Division and then became chief of the Missile Division where he advocated and formulated improvements for the Minuteman and Titan intercontinental ballistic missile force such as the Upgrade Silo Program and Command Data Buffer.
He was transferred to the Space and Missile Systems Organization at Los Angeles Air Force Station, Calif., in July 1971 and served concurrently as system program director and as deputy for launch vehicles with acquisition responsibility for the Atlas, Thor and Titan III families of space boosters. In June 1973 General Coy was appointed deputy for space communications programs, including the Defense Satellite Communications System, the Air Force Satellite Communications System, the Navy's Fleet Satellite Communications System and the NATO Phase III Program.
In September 1976 General Coy became the director of space, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, with responsibility for space research and systems development activities. As a result of a headquarters reorganization in July 1978, he became the director of space systems and command, control and communications, adding responsibilities for acquisition of command, control and communications systems. He assumed command of the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division Oct. 26, 1978.
General Coy is a member of several professional, civic and fraternal organizations and is the author of papers on technical matters and international affairs.
His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and the Master Missileman Badge.
General Coy was promoted to the grade of major general on Feb. 1, 1977, with a date of rank of Nov. 1, 1973.
(Current as of February 1979)
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