William J. Begert
Encyclopedia
General William J. Begert (born June 9, 1946) served as commander, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Component Commander for the Commander, United States Pacific Command
, Hickam Air Force Base
, Hawaii
. As commander, he had responsibility for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports 55,500 Air Force people serving principally in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
in 1968 and served as an instructor and evaluator pilot in C-141, O-2 and C-5 aircraft early in his career. During the Vietnam War
, he was assigned as a forward air controller at Da Nang Air Base
, South Vietnam, where he flew more than 300 combat missions over Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. He has more than 875 combat hours. In earlier assignments, General Begert commanded a flying squadron and two Air Force wings. He was Chief of the Mobility Forces Division on the Air Staff. At Scott AFB, Illinois, he served as Chief of Staff as well as Director of Operations and Logistics for Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, and as Inspector General for Headquarters Air Mobility Command
. General Begert was the first Commander of U.S. Air Force's Air Mobility Warfare Center at McGuire AFB, New Jersey. He also served as the Vice Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe during the air war over Serbia. Prior to becoming PACAF commander, the general was the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff for Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. General Begert retired on August 1, 2004. In 2005, Begert was named Vice President for Military International Programs & Business Development with Pratt & Whitney, Military Engines. He is married to the former Joanne Feeley of Palos Park, Illinois. The Begerts have a son, Bill, a daughter, Kary, and two grandchildren.
United States Pacific Command
The United States Pacific Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States armed forces responsible for the Pacific Ocean area. It is led by the Commander, Pacific Command , who is the supreme military authority for the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States serving...
, Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Field, re-named Hickam Air Force Base in 1948, was a United States Air Force facility now part of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lt Col Horace Meek Hickam.- History :...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. As commander, he had responsibility for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports 55,500 Air Force people serving principally in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Background
General Begert graduated from the United States Air Force AcademyUnited States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
in 1968 and served as an instructor and evaluator pilot in C-141, O-2 and C-5 aircraft early in his career. During the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, he was assigned as a forward air controller at Da Nang Air Base
Da Nang Air Base
Da Nang Air Base was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force facility. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War , stationing Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units there...
, South Vietnam, where he flew more than 300 combat missions over Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. He has more than 875 combat hours. In earlier assignments, General Begert commanded a flying squadron and two Air Force wings. He was Chief of the Mobility Forces Division on the Air Staff. At Scott AFB, Illinois, he served as Chief of Staff as well as Director of Operations and Logistics for Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, and as Inspector General for Headquarters Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
. General Begert was the first Commander of U.S. Air Force's Air Mobility Warfare Center at McGuire AFB, New Jersey. He also served as the Vice Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe during the air war over Serbia. Prior to becoming PACAF commander, the general was the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff for Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. General Begert retired on August 1, 2004. In 2005, Begert was named Vice President for Military International Programs & Business Development with Pratt & Whitney, Military Engines. He is married to the former Joanne Feeley of Palos Park, Illinois. The Begerts have a son, Bill, a daughter, Kary, and two grandchildren.
Education
- 1968 Bachelor of science degree, United States Air Force AcademyUnited States Air Force AcademyThe United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
, Colorado Springs, Colorado - 1974 Squadron Officer SchoolSquadron Officer SchoolSquadron 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...
, Maxwell AFB, Alabama - 1980 Master's degree in public administration, University of ColoradoUniversity of Colorado at Colorado SpringsThe University of Colorado Colorado Springs is a campus of the University of Colorado system, the state university system of Colorado....
- 1981 Air Command and Staff CollegeAir Command and Staff CollegeThe Air Command and Staff College is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate professional military education school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S...
, Maxwell AFB, Alabama - 1985 National War CollegeNational War CollegeThe National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
, Fort Lesley J. McNairFort Lesley J. McNairFort Lesley J. McNair is a United States Army post located on the tip of a peninsula that lies at the confluence of the Potomac River and the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. To its west is the Washington Channel, while the Anacostia River is on its south side...
, Washington, D.C. - 1990 Management Program for Executives, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, University of PittsburghUniversity of PittsburghThe University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
- 1995 Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security, John F. Kennedy School of GovernmentJohn F. Kennedy School of GovernmentThe John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
, Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Assignments
- August 1968 - August 1969, student, undergraduate pilot training, Randolph AFB, Texas
- September 1969 - March 1971, C-141 pilot and aircraft commander, 20th Military Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Delaware
- April 1971 - September 1971, French language student, Defense Language InstituteDefense Language InstituteThe Defense Language Institute is a United States Department of Defense educational and research institution, which provides linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies and numerous and varied other customers...
, Washington, D.C. - October 1971 - December 1971, combat crew training, Hurlburt FieldHurlburt FieldHurlburt Field is a U.S. Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation, and is home to Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command , the 1st Special Operations Wing , the...
, Florida - January 1972 - January 1973, O-2A forward air controller and flight examiner pilot, 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam
- February 1973 - June 1977, C-5 pilot and flight examiner, 9th Military Airlift Squadron, 436th Military Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Delaware
- July 1977 - June 1978, military studies instructor, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- July 1978 - July 1980, Air Officer Commanding, Cadet Squadron 20, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- August 1980 - June 1981, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
- July 1981 - December 1982, C-5 Aircraft Commander and Wing Executive Officer, 436th Military Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Delaware
- January 1983 - July 1984, Squadron Commander, 3rd Military Airlift Squadron3d Airlift SquadronThe 3d Airlift Squadron is a squadron of the 436th Airlift Wing of the USAF. It is based at Dover Air Force Base near Dover, Delaware.-History:...
, Dover AFB, Delaware - August 1984 - May 1985, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
- June 1985 - May 1986, Mobility Forces Programmer, Directorate of Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- June 1986 - April 1987, Deputy Chief, Mobility Forces Division, Directorate of Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- May 1987 - January 1988, Chief, Mobility Forces Division and Chairman, Mobility Panel, Directorate of Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- February 1988 - August 1989, Vice Commander, 436th Military Airlift Wing436th Airlift WingThe 436th Airlift Wing is an active United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force, and is based at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware....
, Dover AFB, Delaware - September 1989 - May 1990, Commander, 436th Military Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Delaware
- June 1990 - June 1991, Commander, 60th Military Airlift Wing, Travis AFB, California
- July 1991 - November 1992, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Illinois
- December 1992 - July 1994, Inspector general, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Illinois
- July 1994 - March 1995, Commander, U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Warfare Center, Air Mobility Command, McGuire AFB, New Jersey
- March 1995 - August 1997, Director of Operations and Logistics, J3 and J4, Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Illinois
- August 1997 - August 1999, Vice Commander, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air BaseRamstein Air BaseRamstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
, Germany - August 1999 - May 2001, Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- May 2001 - August 2004, Commander, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Component Commander for the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
Flight Information
- Rating: Command pilot, parachutist
- Flight hours: More than 6,900
- Aircraft flown: C-5C-5 GalaxyThe Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
, C-21, C-37Gulfstream G500/G550The Gulfstream G500 and G550 are business jet aircraft produced by General Dynamics' Gulfstream Aerospace unit, located in Savannah, Georgia, USA. They are variants of the Gulfstream V. There are nine G500s, and 198 G550s in active service as of ....
, C-40C-40 Clipper-See also:-External links:* - retrieved 20 December 2006* - retrieved 20 December 2006* - retrieved 20 December 2006* *...
, C-130C-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
, C-141C-141 StarlifterThe Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
, KC-10KC-10 ExtenderThe McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is the military adaptation of the three-engined DC-10 airliner for the United States Air Force . The KC-10 incorporates military-specific equipment for its primary roles of transport and aerial refueling. It was developed to supplement the KC-135 Stratotanker...
, KC-135KC-135 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
, O-2AO-2 SkymasterThe O-2 Skymaster is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster utilized as an observation and forward air control aircraft...
, T-37Cessna T-37The Cessna T-37 Tweet is a small, economical twin-engine jet trainer-attack type aircraft which flew for decades as a primary trainer for the United States Air Force and in the air forces of several other nations...
, T-38T-38 TalonThe Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
and T-41T-41 MescaleroThe Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172 used by the United States Air Force and Army as well as the armed forces of various other countries as a pilot training aircraft.-Design and development:...
Awards and decorations
Defense Distinguished Service MedalDefense Distinguished Service MedalThe Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service MedalThe 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...
Defense Superior Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalThe Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe 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 clusterOak leaf clusterAn oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United States)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with oak leaf cluster
Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with 11 oak leaf clusters