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BRIGADIER GENERAL DENIS L. WALSH

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Retired Sep. 1, 1991.  

Brigadier General Denis L. Walsh is vice commander, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.

General Walsh was born in 1935, in Waterloo, Iowa, and graduated from St. Agnes High School, Springfield, Mo., in May 1953. After two years at Southwest Missouri State College, he enlisted as a naval aviation cadet in September 1955. In 1956 he entered the U.S. Air Force Academy, graduating in 1960 with a bachelor of science degree and a major in engineering science. The general earned a master of science degree in systems management from the University of Southern California in 1975. He graduated from Squadron Officer School in 1965, Armed Forces Staff College in 1971, Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1976 and the Air War College as a distinguished graduate in June 1980. He also completed the Ballistic Missile Staff Officer Course at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and the Base Commanders Management Course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

The general received his navigator's wings upon graduating from the academy, and his pilot's wings in August 1961. He completed B-52 combat crew training and was assigned to the 306th Bombardment Wing, McCoy Air Force Base, Fla., as a co-pilot, later serving as aircraft commander and instructor pilot. He participated in Arc Light operations in Southeast Asia in 1966-67. He was assigned to Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., as an air operations staff officer for the Directorate of Future Force Structure, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, from April 1968 to June 1970.

After graduating from the Armed Forces Staff College in December 1971, he served as adviser to the deputy chief of staff for plans, Vietnamese air force, 1st Air Division, Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. General Walsh then was assigned to Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y., as an FB-111 commander, instructor pilot, flight commander and chief of the Bomber Branch, Standardization and Evaluation Division, 380th Bombardment Wing. In December 1974, while at Plattsburgh, he was assigned as operations officer for the 528th Bombardment Squadron. He assumed command of the squadron in February 1977. Under his command the 528th received the John D. Ryan Trophy as the best bombardment squadron in Strategic Air Command. In July 1978 he became deputy commander of the 380th Combat Support Group at Plattsburgh.

In June 1980 General Walsh was assigned to Strategic Air Command headquarters, Offutt Air Force Base, as deputy director of aeronautical requirements, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans. He became director in August 1981. He was assigned to Pease Air Force Base, N.H., as vice commander of the 509th Bombardment Wing in January 1982 and assumed command of the wing in May 1983. The 509th won the Fairchild Trophy in the Strategic Air Command bombing-navigation competition in both 1982 and 1983, and received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for this same period.

General Walsh returned to Strategic Air Command headquarters in June 1984 as the assistant for operational requirements, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans. He became commander of Strategic Air Command's 4th Air Division, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., in June 1985. During the next two years, SAC's newest missile, the Peacekeeper, was introduced at F.E. Warren. He assumed his present position in June 1987.

He is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, including 763 hours in FB-111A's and 3,500 hours in B-52D's. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and Air Force Commendation Medal.

He was promoted to brigadier general Aug. 1, 1986, with same date of rank.

(Current as of July 1987)






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