General gary north biography samples wikipedia

Gary North was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC Program at East Carolina University on September 4, , and then attended Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather AFB, California, from September to May After completing Electronic Warfare Officer School and F-4E Phantom II Combat Crew Training, he served as a Weapons Systems Officer with the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kunsan AB, South Korea, from July to July Lt North next served as an F-4G Wild Weasel Electronic Warfare Officer with the st and rd Tactical Fighter Squadrons at George AFB, California, from August to September , followed by Undergraduate Pilot Training at Reese AFB, Texas, from September to September After completing Fighter Lead-In Training and F Fighting Falcon transition training, Capt North served with the 19th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, from September to April He attended the U.S.

Air Force Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada, from April to August , and then served with the rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB from August to June His next assignment was with the th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ramstein AB, West Germany, from June to June , followed by service on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief U.S.

Air Forces in Europe, also at Ramstein AB, from June to June Maj North attended the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, from July to January , and then served as assistant operations officer for the 19th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Shaw AFB from March to July Col North served on the staff of the rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Shaw from July to July , and during this time he deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

He became commander of the 33rd Fighter Squadron in July , and was credited with destroying a MIG Foxbat while patrolling the no-fly zone during Operation Southern Watch on December 27, This was the first U.S. Air Force F MIG kill, and the first combat use of the AIM AMRAAM missile.

General gary north biography samples Pacific Air Forces is responsible for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports 45, airmen serving principally in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Korea and Japan. He has held numerous operational, command and staff positions, and has completed four long and four short overseas tours. The general has served two tours on the Joint Staff, serving as executive officer to the director of the Joint Staff, and as director of politico-military affairs for Asia-Pacific, where he was responsible for regional planning and policy for the Asia-Pacific, South Asia and Central Asia regions. He has served on the Air Force Staff as the chief of Joint Requirements Division and deputy director of joint matters, and as the director for operations, U. Pacific Command , Camp H.

Col North attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C., from August to June , and then served as the commander of the 35th Operations Group at Misawa AB, Japan, from July to August He served with Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from August to August , followed by service as executive assistant to the Director of the Joint Staff from August to May His next assignment was as commander of the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan AB, South Korea, from May to May , and then as commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Okinawa, from August to April Gen North served as Deputy Director of Politico-Military Affairs for Asia-Pacific on the Joint Staff from April to June , followed by service as Director for Operations of U.S.

Pacific Command at Camp Smith, Hawaii, from July to January He then served as commander of 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central at Shaw AFB from February to August Gen North's final assignment was as Commander of Pacific Air Forces at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, from August until his retirement from the Air Force on October 1,

His 2nd Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:

Lieutenant Colonel Gary L.

North distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an aircraft commander in southern Iraq on 27 December On that date, flying as Benji 41, he led four FC's on a combat air patrol mission in southern Iraq in support of the United Nations' cease-fire and no-fly resolutions and the coalition objectives of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and DESERT STORM.

Skillfully orchestrating his fighter element south of the 32nd parallel during five separate engagements against Iraqi enemy aircraft, he forced the Iraqi's to remain north of the 32nd parallel on two occasions and to withdraw north of the border after penetrating south on the third engagement. On the fourth engagement, Colonel North led his element against a formation of Iraqi fighter aircraft and shot down the MIG flight leader.

This historic engagement was the first United States Air Force F MIG kill and the first combat launching of the Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile. His professional airmanship and discipline in ensuring all Operations SOUTHERN WATCH rules of engagement requirements were satisfied prior to destroying the enemy fighter, and his total situational awareness in aerial combat vividly displayed the coalition's resolve to uphold the United Nations' Resolution , prohibiting Iraq forces from flying south of the 32nd parallel.

The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel North reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.