Viper Driver Flying Hours

Retired July 1, 1997.

Major General Lee A. Downer is director of operations, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va. He directs the operational planning, training and command and control functions needed to deploy and employ active and Air Force Reserve combat air forces, including more than 3,600 aircraft and 8,000 combat ready crews worldwide in support of United States security objectives.

The general entered the Air Force in 1964 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is a command pilot with more than 3,500 hours in fighter aircraft. He flew 154 combat missions in Vietnam and commanded a composite wing in Turkey during Operation Desert Storm.

Education

• 1964 Bachelor of science degree in military science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.


• 1969 Squadron Officer School


• 1976 Master's degree in political science, Auburn University, Ala.


• 1976 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.


• 1985 Royal College of Defense Studies, London

Assignments

1. June 1964 - August 1965, student, undergraduate pilot training, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
   
2. August 1965 - February 1966, F-4 Combat Crew Training School, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.


3. February 1966 - November 1966, F-4C pilot, 92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Bentwaters, England


4. November 1966 - July 1967, F-4C fighter pilot, 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam


5. August 1967 - February 1968, F-4D fighter pilot, 478th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Homestead Air Force Base, Fla.


6. February 1968 - December 1969, F-4E fighter pilot, 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.


7. December 1969 - July 1971, F-4C fighter pilot, 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Hahn Air Base, West Germany


8. July 1971 - December 1972, F-4C instructor pilot, 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Zweibrucken Air Base, West Germany


9. January 1973 - December 1973, F-4C flight commander, 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany


10. January 1974 - May 1975, O-2 and OV-10 pilot, air liaison officer and squadron assistant operations officer, 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea


11. May 1975 - July 1976, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.


12. July 1976 - July 1980, staff officer, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, directorate of plans, tactical force development division, Air Staff, Washington, D.C.


13. July 1980 - October 1981, F-16 instructor pilot, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah


14. October 1981 - October 1983, commander, 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah


15. October 1983 - November 1984, special assistant to wing commander, Hill Air Force Base, Utah


16. December 1984 - January 1986, member, Royal College of Defense Studies, London


17. January 1986 - June 1987, director of operations and training, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany


18. June 1987 - July 1988, vice commander, 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn Air Base, West Germany


19. July 1988 - February 1990, commander, 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Station Upper Heyford, England


20. February 1990 - July 1991, inspector general and deputy chief of staff for productivity, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany


21. January 1991 - March 1991, air component and 7440th Composite Wing commander, Joint Task Force PROVEN FORCE, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey


22. July 1991 - October 1992, deputy chief of staff for operations, Second Allied Tactical Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany


23. October 1992 - July 1994, director of operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe; deputy chief of staff for operations, 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany


24. August 1994 - present, director of operations, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.

Flight information

• Rating: Command pilot


• Flight hours: More than 3,500


• Aircraft flown: O-2, OV-10, F-4C/D/E, F-16A/C and F-111 E/F

Major awards and decorations

• Distinguished Service Medal


• Defense Superior Service Medal


• Legion of Merit


• Distinguished Flying Cross


• Purple Heart


• Meritorious Service Medal


• Air Medal with 12 oak leaf clusters

Other achievements
"The Composite Wing in Combat, "Airpower Journal" - based on experiences as commander of the 7440th Composite Wing, the air component of Joint Task Force PROVEN FORCE, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey

Effective dates of promotion