Edward J. Mechenbier

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Edward J. Mechenbier
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USAFA position(s):
Rank:
Nickname(s):
Awards and Recognition: Distinguished Grad (AOG), 2006
USAFA Class: 1964
Cadet squadron:
Cadet Activities:
Official bio: http://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=9658


Major General Edward J. Mechenbier, Class of 1964.

Contents

[edit] Background

The general was born in Morgantown, W.Va., and raised in Albuquerque, N.M., and Dayton, Ohio, before entering the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1960. After graduation in June 1964, he attended pilot training and served tours in Europe and Southeast Asia flying the F-4C. In June 1967, he was shot down on his 80th mission over North Vietnam and was a prisoner of war for nearly six years. In 1973, he was assigned to the fighter branch, 4950th Test Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB. He resigned his regular commission in 1975 and continued to fly the F-100 and A-7 for 16 years with the Ohio National Guard. He commanded the 162nd Tactical Fighter Squadron for six years. In 1991, the general transferred to the Air Force Reserve where he served with the Joint Logistics Systems Center and Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command. He is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours. He has also been appointed by the Secretary of Defense to serve on the Reserve Forces Policy Board. Mechenbier retired on June 30, 2004.

In civilian life, the general is corporate vice president, Business Development for Science Applications International Corporation, San Diego, Calif. Additionally, he is the television host for several major air shows throughout the country, including the United States Air and Trade Show held in Dayton, Ohio.

[edit] Education

  • 1964 Bachelor of Science degree, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs
  • 1975 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • 1986 National Security Management Course, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

[edit] Assignments

  1. July 1964 - August 1965, student, pilot training, Vance AFB, Okla.
  2. September 1965 - February 1966, pilot, F-4C flight training, Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Ariz.
  3. February 1966 - November 1966, F-4C pilot, 92nd Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Bentwaters, England
  4. December 1966 - June 1967, pilot, 390th Fighter Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam
  5. June 1967 - February 1973, prisoner of war, Hanoi, North Vietnam
  6. May 1973 - June 1975, pilot, fighter branch, 4950th Test Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
  7. July 1975 - June 1984, pilot, command post controller, operations officer, 162nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ohio Air National Guard, Springfield Airport
  8. July 1984 - June 1991, commander, 162nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ohio Air National Guard, Springfield Airport
  9. June 1991 - January 1995, senior mobilization assistant to commander, Joint Logistics Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
  10. January 1995 - July 1997, mobilization assistant to the director of logistics, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
  11. July 1997 - April 2000, mobilization assistant to the commander, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
  12. April 2000 - present, mobilization assistant to the commander, Headquarters Air Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

[edit] Flight Information

  • Rating: Command pilot
  • Flight hours: More than 3,700
  • Aircraft flown: A-7, F-100, F/RF-4, T-39, C-141C plus more than twenty other aircraft for familiarization, including the F-16, F-15, F/A-18 and MiG-29

[edit] Awards and Decorations

  • Distinguished Service Medal
  • Silver Star with oak leaf cluster
  • Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
  • Bronze Star Medal with "V" device
  • Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster
  • Meritorious Service Medal
  • Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Commendation Medal
  • Prisoner of War Medal
  • Vietnam Service Medal with eight service stars
  • Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
  • Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
  • Awarded the Association of Graduates' Distinguished Graduate award in 2006
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