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| Information > Biographies > BRIGADIER GENERAL LARRY D. WRIGHT |
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BRIGADIER GENERAL LARRY D. WRIGHT
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Retired Aug. 1, 1987.
Brigadier General Larry D. Wright is vice commander, 22nd Air Force, Military Airlift Command, with headquarters at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. As one of three combat-ready strategic and tactical airlift arms of the Military Airlift Command, 22nd Air Force's geographical area of operations extends westward from the Mississippi River, across the Pacific and Indian Oceans to the eastern coast of Africa, pole to pole. Throughout this area, 22nd Air Force performs airlift operations, provides a vast network of support facilities and maintains a flexible airlift capability in support of the global mobility and logistics needs of United States fighting forces.
General Wright was born in 1938, in Danville, Va., and graduated from Bladensburg (Md.) High School. He received a bachelor of arts degree in political geography from the University of Maryland in 1960 and a master of arts degree in urban sociology (cum laude) from the University of Colorado in 1972. The general graduated from the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1977. He is also a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
He was commissioned in 1960 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Maryland as a distinguished graduate and was recognized by the American Legion as the outstanding graduate of 1960. General Wright completed flying training at Craig Air Force Base, Ala., in June 1962 and was assigned to Travis Air Force Base. He served initially as a C-133 pilot and instructor, and then as a maintenance test flight officer, from September 1965 to December 1968. In 1969 General Wright became chief of aircrew standardization, flying C-7A Caribous at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, Republic of Vietnam.
Returning from Southeast Asia in March 1970, the general joined the staff at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., as a squadron air officer commanding. From December 1973 to July 1976, he served as a C-141 pilot and flight commander, quality control officer and Avionics Maintenance Squadron commander, while assigned to the 437th Military Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. After attending the National War College, he became an action officer in the Logistics Planning and Review Branch for Strategic Mobility, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., until June 1979.
After his tour of duty at the Pentagon, General Wright took command of the 89th Military Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. This unit provides airlift for the president as well as other high-level government officials and foreign dignitaries. He remained there until February 1981 when he was assigned as commander of the 438th Military Airlift Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. At McGuire he initiated an extensive history and heritage program to preserve the legacy of our airlift pioneers. In February 1983 General Wright became deputy chief of staff for logistics at Military Airlift Command headquarters, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. He assumed his present duties in July 1984.
The general is a command pilot with 7,400 flying hours, including 1,874 combat flying hours and 533 maintenance test flight hours. He has flown T-29s, T-33s, T-34s, T-37s, C-133s, C-7A's, C-9s, T-39s, C-118s, C-131s and C-141s. His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 11 service stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
He was promoted to brigadier general June 1, 1984, with date of rank Oct. 1, 1983.
(Current as of September 1984)
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