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== Air Force Chief of Staff == |
== Air Force Chief of Staff == |
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[[File:General Larry D. Welch at Andrews Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|247x247px|[[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Air Force Chief of Staff]] General Larry D. Welch at [[Andrews Air Force Base]].|left]] |
[[File:General Larry D. Welch at Andrews Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|247x247px|[[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Air Force Chief of Staff]] General Larry D. Welch at [[Andrews Air Force Base]].|left]] |
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In 1986 Welch was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to become the new Air Force Chief of Staff, succeeding the retiring General [[Charles A. Gabriel]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> Welch assumed the position of [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force]] on July 1, 1986. Welch is one of only a handful of modern service [[Joint Chiefs of Staff|chiefs]] to have risen from enlisted rank to his service's highest position (the others being Marine Corps General [[Alfred M. Gray, Jr.|Alfred Gray]], Army General [[John Shalikashvili]] and Navy Admiral [[Jeremy Boorda]]).<ref name=":0" /> |
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As Air Force Chief of Staff Welch oversaw all of the United States Air Force operation within the United States and Worldwide and in his capacity as Air Force Chief of Staff Welch was also the most senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for organizing, training and equipping all of the active-duty Air Force officers, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.<ref name=":0" /> As Air Force Chief of Staff, Welch also become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which has primary tasked to advise The President, Secretary of Defense and National Security Council regarding Air Force matters.<ref name=":0" /> |
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During his tenure as Air Force Chief of Staff, Welch oversaw the transition of the United States Air Force operations following the [[Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty]] which led to the end of the Cold War. Welch emphasize that although the Cold War has already relieve, but the United States Air Force strength has to be maintain in-order to face another possible threat by new adversary in the future. During his tenure as Air Force Chief of Staff Welch also oversaw the entering of the United States Air Force new Strategic Bombers Aircraft, the [[Rockwell B-1 Lancer|B-1B Lancer]] in-which Welch has tested it during Welch tenure as Commanders of Strategic Air Command.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Perry|first=Mark|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/972386823|title=The Pentagon's wars : the military's undeclared war against America's presidents|date=2017|isbn=978-0-465-07971-1|edition=First edition|location=New York, NY|oclc=972386823}}</ref> |
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With the near end of the [[Cold War|Cold-War]] by 1989, Welch maintained that The United States Air Force are still in robust condition and always ready in-case a threat in the future by a new adversary attack. Welch also pushed for the new training for all of the Air Force personnel in-order to adjust with the new and advance modern technology that will be equipped into the new aircraft by the future, such as the new computerization aircraft. Welch also pushed for all United States Air Force Aircraft cockpit that are still using the analogue equipment to be upgraded with the new computerization technology.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" />[[File:Air Force Chief of Staff General Larry D. Welch flies an Lockheed C-141 Starlifter.jpg|thumb|235x235px|Air Force Chief of Staff General Larry D. Welch flies an [[Lockheed C-141 Starlifter]].]]In March 1989, Larry Welch was rebuked by Defense Secretary [[Dick Cheney]] who intended to maintain civilian control of the military, due to Welch's unauthorized talks with a Congressman discussing some unresolved issues.<ref>{{cite news |last1=ROSENTHA |first1=ANDREW |title=Cheney Rebukes Air Force Chief For Arms Talk With Legislators |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/25/us/cheney-rebukes-air-force-chief-for-arms-talk-with-legislators.html |access-date=19 July 2019 |agency=New York Times |date=March 25, 1989}}</ref> |
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==Decorations== |
==Decorations== |
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Revision as of 10:48, 19 November 2021
Larry D. Welch | |
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 General Larry D. Welch | |
| Born | June 9, 1934 Guymon, Oklahoma |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | Kansas National Guard United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1951–1990 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Ninth Air Force |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War Cold War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal (7) |
| Other work | Rumsfeld Commission President, Institute for Defense Analyses Board of Directors, Henry L. Stimson Center |
General Larry D. Welch (born June 9, 1934) is a retired United States Air Force four star general who served as the 12th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As Chief of Staff, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of a combined active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian force serving at locations in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he and the other service chiefs functioned as the principal military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Nuclear Weapon Surety Task Force for the Defense Science Board.
Early life and career
Welch was born in Guymon, Oklahoma, and graduated from Liberal (Kansas) High School in 1952. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master of Science degree in international relations from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Welch completed Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1967, and National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1972. Welch is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
Welch enlisted in the Kansas National Guard in October 1951, serving with the 161st Armored Field Artillery until he enlisted in the United States Air Force. In November 1953, he entered the aviation cadet program and received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant. He served initially as a flight instructor until his assignment in July 1958, to Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.
Military career
Welch then served in tactical fighter units in Europe, the continental United States and Alaska before transferring to the Republic of Vietnam where he flew combat missions in F-4C Phantom IIs over North and South Vietnam, and Laos.
After completing the Armed Forces Staff College in July 1967, Welch was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., under the assistant chief of staff for studies and analysis. Upon graduation from the National War College in July 1972, he was assigned to Tactical Air Command, where he served in wing deputy commander for operations, vice commander and wing commander positions.
In August 1977, he transferred to Headquarters Tactical Air Command where he served as inspector general, deputy chief of staff for plans and deputy chief of staff for operations. In June 1981, he became commander of the Ninth Air Force and Air Force component commander for the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force. In November 1982, he was assigned as deputy chief of staff for programs and resources at Air Force headquarters and became Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force in July 1984.
Commander of The Strategic Air Command
On August 1, 1985 General Welch was appointed as the new Commanders-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Command, succeeding the retiring General Bennie L. Davis.[1] From August 1985 to June 1986, Welch served as commander in chief, Strategic Air Command, and director, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.[1] In this capacity, Welch oversaw all of the United States Nuclear Triad operations, which included fleet of Strategic Bombers Aircraft and fleet of Ballistic Missile such as the Intercontinental-Ballistic missiles.[2]
During Welch tenure as Commanders of the Strategic Air Command, Welch oversaw the transition of a new Air Force Strategic Bombers Aircraft, the B-1B Lancer which began its service within the United States Air Force on 1986. Welch himself also tested the B-1B aircraft by flying the aircraft himself for the test-flight.[3] Welch also emphasize about the need to modernized United States Air Force fleet of Strategic Bombers Aircraft, such as the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress which has become the backbone of the United States Air Force Strategic Bombers Aircraft need to be modified with the new equipment so it would be able to serve within the United States Air Force for the next fifty years and also the need of a new advance stealth bombers aircraft. As a result the Air Force began the new B-2 bomber project aircraft which gave birth to the new advance stealth Bomber Aircraft, the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit.[2] President Reagan praised Welch for his achievement as Commander of The Strategic Air Command in shaping and modernizing the Strategic Air Command.[3][2]
Air Force Chief of Staff
In 1986 Welch was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to become the new Air Force Chief of Staff, succeeding the retiring General Charles A. Gabriel.[3][2] Welch assumed the position of Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force on July 1, 1986. Welch is one of only a handful of modern service chiefs to have risen from enlisted rank to his service's highest position (the others being Marine Corps General Alfred Gray, Army General John Shalikashvili and Navy Admiral Jeremy Boorda).[1]
As Air Force Chief of Staff Welch oversaw all of the United States Air Force operation within the United States and Worldwide and in his capacity as Air Force Chief of Staff Welch was also the most senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for organizing, training and equipping all of the active-duty Air Force officers, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.[1] As Air Force Chief of Staff, Welch also become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which has primary tasked to advise The President, Secretary of Defense and National Security Council regarding Air Force matters.[1]
During his tenure as Air Force Chief of Staff, Welch oversaw the transition of the United States Air Force operations following the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty which led to the end of the Cold War. Welch emphasize that although the Cold War has already relieve, but the United States Air Force strength has to be maintain in-order to face another possible threat by new adversary in the future. During his tenure as Air Force Chief of Staff Welch also oversaw the entering of the United States Air Force new Strategic Bombers Aircraft, the B-1B Lancer in-which Welch has tested it during Welch tenure as Commanders of Strategic Air Command.[2][4]
With the near end of the Cold-War by 1989, Welch maintained that The United States Air Force are still in robust condition and always ready in-case a threat in the future by a new adversary attack. Welch also pushed for the new training for all of the Air Force personnel in-order to adjust with the new and advance modern technology that will be equipped into the new aircraft by the future, such as the new computerization aircraft. Welch also pushed for all United States Air Force Aircraft cockpit that are still using the analogue equipment to be upgraded with the new computerization technology.[4][2]
In March 1989, Larry Welch was rebuked by Defense Secretary Dick Cheney who intended to maintain civilian control of the military, due to Welch's unauthorized talks with a Congressman discussing some unresolved issues.[5]
Decorations
Welch is a command pilot with more than 6,500 flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Meritorious Unit Award and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and two oak leaf clusters.
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with V device and two oak leaf clusters
Retirement and further work
Welch was promoted to general on August 1, 1984, with same date of rank and retired on July 1, 1990. In 1998 he spent several months on the Rumsfeld Commission, which reported to Congress on the ballistic missile threat to the United States.
In 2009, Welch retired as the president of the Institute for Defense Analyses in Alexandria, Virginia.[6] He continues to serve as a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses. He also serves on the Defense Policy Board, the USSTRATCOM Strategic Advisory Group, the Sandia Corporation Board of Directors, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Director's Review Committee.
In October 2007, Welch was asked by Robert Gates to lead the Defense Science Board task force that would study the 2007 United States Air Force nuclear weapons incident as part of a larger review of US Department of Defense procedures and policies for handling nuclear weapons. Welch briefed the results of the review before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services on February 12, 2008.[7]
In 2014, Secretary of Defense Hagel asked Welch and retired Admiral John Harvey to lead an Independent Review of the Department of Defense Nuclear Enterprise. The report was delivered to the Secretary of Defense in June 2014.
References
- ^ a b c d e "GENERAL LARRY D. WELCH". www.af.mil. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ a b c d e f Council of War: A History of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1942-1991. Military Bookshop. 2012. ISBN Military Bookshop.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - ^ a b c Perry, Mark (1989). Four stars. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-42923-5. OCLC 18744815.
- ^ a b Perry, Mark (2017). The Pentagon's wars : the military's undeclared war against America's presidents (First edition ed.). New York, NY. ISBN 978-0-465-07971-1. OCLC 972386823.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ ROSENTHA, ANDREW (March 25, 1989). "Cheney Rebukes Air Force Chief For Arms Talk With Legislators". New York Times. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20060923045954/http://www.ida.org/IDAnew/Welcome/index.html
- ^ Pincus, "4 Colonels Lose Their Air Force Commands", USDoD, "DoD Press Briefing with Maj. Gen. Newton", Baker, "Air Force Relieves Commanders Involved in Nuclear Weapons Incident", Hoffman, "Wing decertified, COs sacked for nuke mistake", Hoffman, "Generals grilled on Minot nuclear mishap", Spiegel, "U.S. Nuclear Focus Has Dimmed, Studies Find", Spiegel, "U.S. Nuclear Focus Has Dimmed, Studies Find".
External links
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