Lawrence A. Skantze
Encyclopedia
General Lawrence Albert Skantze (born June 24, 1928) is a retired United States Air Force
four star general and was commander, Air Force Systems Command
at Andrews Air Force Base
, Maryland.
Skantze was born in 1928, in the Bronx, New York. After graduation from Cardinal Hayes High School
in 1946, he enlisted in the United States Navy
and served as a radio operator. In 1948 he received a competitive appointment from the U.S. Atlantic Fleet
to the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis, Maryland, and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science
degree in engineering
and a commission as a second lieutenant
in the U.S. Air Force. He received a Master of Science
degree in nuclear engineering
from the Air Force Institute of Technology
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
, Ohio, in 1959. He completed Squadron Officer School
at Maxwell Air Force Base
, Alabama, and Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia
.
He completed his basic pilot training at Marana, Arizona
, and advanced training at Reese Air Force Base
, Texas, where he received his pilot wings in August 1953. He next entered B-26
combat crew training and in February 1954 was assigned to the 90th Bombardment Squadron at Kunsan Air Base
, South Korea. In January 1955 he returned to the United States to become aide to the commanding general of 14th Air Force at Robins Air Force Base
, Georgia. Skantze entered the Air Force Institute of Technology in August 1957 and graduated in 1959.
His initial research and development assignment was as project engineer with the joint Air Force-Atomic Energy Commission Nuclear Powered Airplane program
in Germantown, Maryland. In August 1961 he was a staff officer assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. From June 1963 to August 1965, he was assistant executive officer to the under secretary of the Air Force.
Graduating from the Armed Forces Staff College the following year, General Skantze served for three and a half years as director of system engineering and advanced planning in the Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program at the Space and Missile Systems Organization in Los Angeles
.
From August 1969 to May 1971, he was assigned to Headquarters Air Force Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base
, initially as director of assignments and later as assistant for senior officer management. He then became deputy for the AGM-69A Short-Range Attack Missile
at the Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
After serving as deputy for the E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System program at Hanscom Air Force Base
, Massachusetts, from June 1973 to June 1977, he returned to Air Force Systems Command headquarters as deputy chief of staff for systems. General Skantze took command of the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in March 1979.
In August 1982 General Skantze was named deputy chief of staff for research, development and acquisition at Air Force headquarters. He was responsible for all U.S. Air Force research, development and acquisition programs. The general was appointed vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in October 1983. He assumed command of Air Force Systems Command in August 1984.
He was a command pilot and earned the Senior Missile Badge
. His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit
with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and Army Commendation Medal. He was promoted to general October 6, 1983, with same date of rank, and retired from the Air Force on July 31, 1987.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
four star general and was commander, Air Force Systems Command
Air Force Systems Command
Air Force Systems Command is a former United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland...
at Andrews Air Force Base
Andrews Air Force Base
Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
, Maryland.
Skantze was born in 1928, in the Bronx, New York. After graduation from Cardinal Hayes High School
Cardinal Hayes High School
Cardinal Hayes High School is a Catholic high school for boys in the Bronx, New York City. The school serves the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. It is a member of the CHSAA.- History :...
in 1946, he enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and served as a radio operator. In 1948 he received a competitive appointment from the U.S. Atlantic Fleet
U.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
at Annapolis, Maryland, and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and a commission as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the U.S. Air Force. He received a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
from the Air Force Institute of Technology
Air Force Institute of Technology
The Air Force Institute of Technology is a graduate school and provider of professional and continuing education that is part of the United States Air Force. It is located on Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. A component of Air University and Air Education and Training Command, AFIT has been...
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
, Ohio, in 1959. He completed Squadron Officer School
Squadron Officer School
Squadron Officer School , is a five-week long Professional Military Education course for U.S. Air Force Captains. It fulfills the U.S. Air Force's requirement for primary developmental education . SOS is based at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and the in-residence version of the course is taught there...
at Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, Alabama, and Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
He completed his basic pilot training at Marana, Arizona
Marana, Arizona
Marana is a town in Pima County, Arizona, located northwest of Tucson, with a small portion in Pinal County. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town is 34,961...
, and advanced training at Reese Air Force Base
Reese Air Force Base
Reese Air Force Base was a base of the United States Air Force located 6 mi west of Lubbock, Texas, about 225 mi WNW of Fort Worth...
, Texas, where he received his pilot wings in August 1953. He next entered B-26
A-26 Invader
The Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
combat crew training and in February 1954 was assigned to the 90th Bombardment Squadron at Kunsan Air Base
Kunsan Air Base
Kunsan Air Base , is a United States Air Force base located on the west coast of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. It is at the town of Gunsan about 150 miles south of Seoul. The town can be romanized as both Gunsan and Kunsan...
, South Korea. In January 1955 he returned to the United States to become aide to the commanding general of 14th Air Force at Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force base located in Houston County, Georgia, United States. The base is located just east of and adjacent to the city of Warner Robins, Georgia, SSE of Macon, Georgia, and about SSE of Atlanta, Georgia...
, Georgia. Skantze entered the Air Force Institute of Technology in August 1957 and graduated in 1959.
His initial research and development assignment was as project engineer with the joint Air Force-Atomic Energy Commission Nuclear Powered Airplane program
Project Pluto
Project Pluto was a United States government program to develop nuclear powered ramjet engines for use in cruise missiles. Two experimental engines were tested at the United States Department of Energy Nevada Test Site in 1961 and 1964.-History:...
in Germantown, Maryland. In August 1961 he was a staff officer assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. From June 1963 to August 1965, he was assistant executive officer to the under secretary of the Air Force.
Graduating from the Armed Forces Staff College the following year, General Skantze served for three and a half years as director of system engineering and advanced planning in the Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program at the Space and Missile Systems Organization in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
From August 1969 to May 1971, he was assigned to Headquarters Air Force Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base
Andrews Air Force Base
Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
, initially as director of assignments and later as assistant for senior officer management. He then became deputy for the AGM-69A Short-Range Attack Missile
AGM-69 SRAM
The Boeing AGM-69 SRAM was a nuclear air-to-surface missile designed to replace the older AGM-28 Hound Dog stand-off missile....
at the Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
After serving as deputy for the E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System program at Hanscom Air Force Base
Hanscom Air Force Base
Hanscom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of Bedford, Massachusetts. The facility is a joint use civil airport/military base with Hanscom Field which provides general aviation and charter service.The host unit at Hanscom is the non-flying...
, Massachusetts, from June 1973 to June 1977, he returned to Air Force Systems Command headquarters as deputy chief of staff for systems. General Skantze took command of the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in March 1979.
In August 1982 General Skantze was named deputy chief of staff for research, development and acquisition at Air Force headquarters. He was responsible for all U.S. Air Force research, development and acquisition programs. The general was appointed vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in October 1983. He assumed command of Air Force Systems Command in August 1984.
He was a command pilot and earned the Senior Missile Badge
Missile Badge
The Missile Badge is a military decoration of the United States Air Force which was first created in the 1960s. The badge recognizes those commissioned officers and enlisted personnel of the US Air Force who have qualified as missile personnel that have been trained in the launching of landbased...
. His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and Army Commendation Medal. He was promoted to general October 6, 1983, with same date of rank, and retired from the Air Force on July 31, 1987.