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| Information > Biographies > BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN R. LASATER |
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BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN R. LASATER
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Retired Oct. 1, 1983.
Brigadier General John R. Lasater is deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and North Atlantic Treaty Organization policy, and the principal director for European and North Atlantic Treaty Organization policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, Washington, D.C. He is responsible for the development of defense policy pertaining to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance and European nations, and he advises the secretary on matters of arms cooperation and arms control negotiations in Europe.
General Lasater was born in 1931, in Farmington, Utah. He graduated from Weber County High School in Ogden, Utah, and attended Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. He graduated from the University of Omaha, Neb., with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1966, and earned his master's degree from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, in 1970. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1966 and graduated from the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1974.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in March 1952 and received his commission as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Officers' Candidate School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in March 1957. He completed primary flying training in October 1957 at Maiden Air Force Base, Mo., and basic flying training in May 1958 at Greenville Air Force Base, Miss., where he received his pilot wings. He completed advanced flying training at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., in October 1958.
The general's first operational flying assignment was in November 1958 with the 93rd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. In July 1960 he joined the 751st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at Mount Laguna Air Force Station, Calif., where he remained until December 1961. General Lasater then had aircrew survival training and RF-101 combat crew training en route to an assignment with the 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Laon Air Base, France, in May 1962. He attended the University of Omaha under the Bootstrap program from July 1965 to January 1966.
After graduation he served six months as an aircraft commander with the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, and later was plans officer for the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Mountain Home. General Lasater transferred to Southeast Asia in May 1967 where he flew RF-4C's with the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. While there he completed 221 combat missions, 100 over North Vietnam, and compiled 485 combat hours.
Following his Southeast Asia tour of duty in May 1968, General Lasater was assigned as an RF-101 and RF-4C pilot with the 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Upper Heyford, England. He assumed duties as chief of the Standardization and Evaluation Division for the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing there in August 1969. He later served in a similar position with the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, Zweibrucken Air Base, Germany, until July 1970. General Lasater was then assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Lindsey Air Station, Germany, as a standardization and evaluation flight examiner, and as executive assistant to the deputy chief of staff for operations.
He returned to the United States and attended the National War College from August 1973 to June 1974. After graduation he served as special assistant for joint matters and chairman of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Initiatives and Action Group in the Directorate of Plans and Policy, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. While in this position, he also served, beginning in March 1975, as chief of the Europe/North Atlantic Treaty Organization Division within the directorate. In April 1976 General Lasater was assigned as executive assistant to the deputy commander in chief, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany.
From June 1978 to June 1979, he served as commander of the Strategic Air Command's 4th Air Division at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. In addition to the 90th Strategic Missile Wing at Warren, the division included the 44th Strategic Missile Wing; the 28th Bombardment Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.; and the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
General Lasater returned to Washington, D.C., as the senior military adviser to the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency of the State Department. He was also the acting U.S. Commissioner to the 19th and 20th U.S. and Union of Soviet Socialists Republics Standing Consultative commissions. He assumed his present duties in November 1981.
The general is a command pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation emblem, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon, Combat Readiness Medal and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm.
He was promoted to brigadier general Nov. 1, 1978, with same date of rank.
General Lasater is a native of Ogden, Utah.
(Current as of May 1982)
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