Larry D. Welch
General Larry D. Welch (born June 9, 1934) is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as the 12th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As Chief of Staff, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of a combined active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian force serving at locations in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he and the other service chiefs functioned as the principal military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Nuclear Weapon Surety Task Force for the Defense Science Board.
Larry D. Welch
June 9, 1934
Guymon, Oklahoma
United States
1951–1990
Rumsfeld Commission
President, Institute for Defense Analyses
Board of Directors, Henry L. Stimson Center
Early life and career[edit]
Welch was born in Guymon, Oklahoma, and graduated from Liberal (Kansas) High School in 1952. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master of Science degree in international relations from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Welch completed Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1967, and National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1972. Welch is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
Welch enlisted in the Kansas National Guard in October 1951, serving with the 161st Armored Field Artillery until he enlisted in the United States Air Force. In November 1953, he entered the aviation cadet program and received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant. He served initially as a flight instructor until his assignment in July 1958, to Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.
Military career[edit]
Welch then served in tactical fighter units in Europe, the continental United States and Alaska before transferring to the Republic of Vietnam where he flew combat missions in F-4C Phantom IIs over North and South Vietnam, and Laos.
After completing the Armed Forces Staff College in July 1967, Welch was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., under the assistant chief of staff for studies and analysis. Upon graduation from the National War College in July 1972, he was assigned to Tactical Air Command, where he served in wing deputy commander for operations, vice commander and wing commander positions.
In August 1977, he transferred to Headquarters Tactical Air Command where he served as inspector general, deputy chief of staff for plans and deputy chief of staff for operations. In June 1981, he became commander of the Ninth Air Force and Air Force component commander for the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force. In November 1982, he was assigned as deputy chief of staff for programs and resources at Air Force headquarters and became Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force in July 1984.
Welch is a command pilot with more than 6,500 flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Meritorious Unit Award and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and two oak leaf clusters.
Commanders-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Command Gen. Larry D. Welch during a visit to Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, California on January 15, 1986.
United States Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Larry D. Welch with Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Bernard W. Rogers and Commander of United States Air Forces in Europe Gen. Charles L. Donnelly Jr. and Commanders of 9th Air Force Gen. William L. Kirk at NATO Allied Air Command Airshow at Ramstein Air Force Base in Frankfurt, Germany, on January 17, 1987.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Larry D. Welch presents a retirement certificate to Commander of Air Mobility Command Gen. Duane H. Cassidy at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois on September 22, 1989.
Retired General Larry Welch speaks at the Defense Science Board breakfast as Colonel Andrew Gebara, the 2nd Bomb Wing Commander, listens at Barksdale Air Force Base, on August 28, 2012.
