Robert L. Rutherford
Robert Lynn “Skip” Rutherford (born December 11, 1938 in Luling , Texas - † July 4, 2013 in San Antonio , Texas) was an American military pilot and general in the United States Air Force (USAF). October 18, 1994 to July 14, 1996, Rutherford commander of the US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), a part contending powerful cross-functional command of the United States Armed Forces and commander of the Air Mobility Command at the same time also a major command of the USAF .
Education and career
Rutherford graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1961 , where he also completed a training program for the Reserve Officer Training Corps , with a Bachelor of Business Administration . In the same year he joined the Air Force and, after completing flight training, served as a flight instructor on various military bases . Between June 1967 and May 1968 he was stationed with the 435th Fighter Training Squadron at the Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand , from where he flew a total of 161 sorties in the Vietnam War as an F-4 Phantom pilot .
Rutherford's further education included, in addition to various courses and advanced training, a master's degree in business administration from Auburn University (1979). As a pilot he graduated from more than 4000 hours of flight time on the patterns T-37 , T-38 , F-4 , F-15 , F-16 , F-111 , C-5 , C-130 , C-135 and C-141 .
Service in the rank of general
In September 1982 Rutherford was transferred to Randolph Air Force Base , Texas , as Vice Commander, Air Force Military Personnel Center, and Assistant Deputy Chief of staff for Military Personnel , and in that position was promoted to Brigadier General on June 1, 1983 . From September 1983 on, he served in the same position as Commander, US Air Force Recruiting Service, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Recruiting, Headquarters Air Training Command .
Between January 1985 and March 1987 he was Deputy Director of Programs and Evaluation, Director of Manpower and Organization, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Resources at the Air Force Headquarters in Washington, DC , from August 1986 onwards with the rank of major general before he was transferred to Sembach Air Base in Germany as Commander, 17th Air Force, Commander Allied Sector Three and Commander Allied Tactical Operations Center , where he remained until the end of September 1989.
On October 18, 1994, Rutherford was appointed Commander in Chief of the US Transportation Command and Commander of the Air Mobility Command and promoted to general.
Rutherford took effect on 1 August 1996 the retired and died on July 4, 2013 at the age of 74 years in San Antonio, where he on the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery was buried. From 1961 until his death, Rutherford was married to Grace “Kita” Rutherford and they have two sons together.
Promotions
| rank | date |
|---|---|
 Second lieutenant
|
May 28, 1961 |
 First lieutenant
|
January 16, 1963 |
 Captain
|
January 16, 1966 |
 major
|
1st July 1969 |
 Lieutenant Colonel
|
May 1st 1973 |
 Colonel
|
March 1, 1978 |
 Brigadier General
|
June 1, 1983 |
 Major General
|
August 1, 1986 |
 Lieutenant General |
October 1, 1989 |
 general
|
February 1, 1993 |
Awards
Selection of decorations, sorted based on the Order of Precedence of Military Awards :
-
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
-
Legion of Merit with oak leaves
-
Distinguished Flying Cross with double oak leaves -
Air Medal with eleven oak leaves -
Meritorious Service Medal with double oak leaves -
Vietnam Service Medal with two service stars
-
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm fronds -
Vietnam Campaign Medal
See also
- Ranks of the United States Armed Forces
- List of active generals and admirals in the United States Armed Forces
Web links
literature
- Matthews, James K. et al. Cossaboom Robert T .: General Robert L. Rutherford - Commander in Chief United States Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command: An Oral History. Illinois: Scott Air Force Base, 1996. ( Available online on the USTRANSCOM homepage; English; PDF; 3.47 MB; last accessed on August 10, 2014)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e Rutherford's biography at the USAF (last accessed January 30, 2015).
- ^ Entry on Rutherford in the Military Hall of Honor (English; last accessed on January 30, 2015).
- ^ Obituary on the homepage of the city of San Antonio (English; last accessed on January 30, 2015).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Rutherford, Robert L. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Rutherford, Robert Lynn (full name); Rutherford, Skip (nickname) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American military pilot and general in the United States Air Force (USAF) |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 11, 1938 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Luling , Texas |
| DATE OF DEATH | 4th July 2013 |
| Place of death | San Antonio , Texas |