William M. Fraser

William M. Fraser

William M. Fraser III. Born August 17, 1952 in Lakeland , Florida, is a former general in the United States Air Force (USAF). From 14 October 2011 to May 5, 2014 he was commander of the US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), a teilstreiktraftübergreifenden functional command of the United States Armed Forces , headquartered at Scott Air Force Base , Illinois .

He previously served as commander of Air Combat Command (ACC), a major USAF command , from September 2009 to September 2011 , and from October 2008 to August 2009 as vice chairman of the USAF General Staff .

Education and career

Fraser graduated from Texas A&M University while enrolling in a Reserve Officer Training Corps program, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology in 1974 and joined the U.S. Air Force that same year, where he completed a two-year pilot training course and subsequently worked as a trainer in various roles.

As an officer , Fraser served from June 1985 to March 1986 in the rank of Major as Chief, European Single Integrated Operational Plan Tactics, Joint Strategic Target Planning at Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska , from October 1987 to July 1990 in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as Chief, Nuclear Requirements Cell at the headquarters of the Allied Forces in Europe in Mons, Belgium and from May 1998 to May 1999 in the rank of Colonel as Chief of Staff of the US Strategic Command .

Fraser's further education includes a Master of Science degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Northern Colorado (1980), a visit to Marine Corps Command and Staff College (1983), Armed Forces Staff College (1985) and Air War College (1991). During his career Fraser maintained approximately 4,300 hours of flight time, among the patterns T-37 , C-21 , KC-135R , B-52 and B-2 .

During several missions abroad, Fraser took part in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq .

Service in the rank of general

Fraser (left) with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta during the handover of the USTRANSCOM command flag on October 14, 2011

Promoted to Brigadier General, Fraser served as Associate Director for National Systems Operations , Director Defense Space Reconnaissance Program, and Associate Director for Military Support at the National Reconnaissance Office on the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, DC from December 2000 to December 2002 , then from January 2003 to October 2004 Director of Operations in Air Education and Training Command (AETC) at Randolph Air Force Base , Texas , with the rank of major general from October 2003 .

In November 2004, Fraser was transferred to Langley Air Force Base , Virginia , where he served as deputy commander of the ACC for a good 15 months while being promoted to lieutenant general from February 2005; between May 2006 and October 2008 he served as Adjutant General to the Chairman of the United Joint Chiefs of Staff, again in Washington, DC

On April 18, 2008, US President George W. Bush nominated Fraser to succeed Duncan J. McNabb as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force; Fraser took up this post on October 8 of the same year, with promotion to general.

In September 2009, Fraser moved back to Langley Air Force Base as the successor to John DW Corley as commander of the ACC, before he finally took over the supreme command of USTRANSCOM in October 2011, where he replaced Duncan McNabb like three years earlier.

Fraser led USTRANSCOM until May 5, 2014, and was succeeded by General Paul J. Selva (USAF).

Promotions

rank	date
Second lieutenant	November 8, 1974
First lieutenant	November 8, 1976
Captain	November 8, 1978
major	October 1, 1983
Lieutenant Colonel	June 1, 1988
Colonel	January 1, 1992
Brigadier General	January 1, 2000
Major General	October 1, 2003
Lieutenant General	February 3, 2005
general	October 8, 2008

Awards

Selection of decorations, sorted based on the Order of Precedence of Military Awards :

• Defense Distinguished Service Medal
• Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with double oak leaves
• Defense Superior Service Medal with double oak leaves
• Legion of Merit with double oak leaves
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaves
• Air Force Commendation Medal with double oak leaves
• Meritorious Service Medal with double oak leaves

See also

• Ranks of the United States Armed Forces
• List of active generals and admirals in the United States Armed Forces

Web links

Commons : William M. Fraser III.  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Official web presence of USTRANSCOM

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Fraser's biography at the USAF (last accessed December 20, 2013).
2. ↑ Press release of the Ministry of Defense of April 18, 2008 (last accessed on December 20, 2013).
3. ^ Miles, Donna: McNabb Passes Transcom Command to Fraser. defense.gov of October 14, 2011 (last accessed December 20, 2013).