Paul V. Hester

Last updated
Paul V. Hester
Hester pv.jpg
General Paul V. Hester
Born (1947-10-21) October 21, 1947 (age 76)
West Point, Mississippi [1]
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1970–2007
Rank General
Commands held Pacific Air Forces
Air Force Special Operations Command
United States Forces Japan
Fifth Air Force
53rd Wing
35th Fighter Wing
18th Operations Group
94th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)

Paul V. Hester (born October 21, 1947) is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) general . He served as Commander, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Component Commander for the Commander, United States Pacific Command from July 2004 to November 2007. He had responsibility for USAF activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports 55,500 Air Force personnel serving in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Japan and South Korea.

Contents

Military career

Hester was commissioned through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at the University of Mississippi. He earned his wings in December 1971 at Columbus AFB, Mississippi. A command pilot and combat veteran, Hester has more than 200 combat hours in Southeast Asia and has accumulated more than 2,900 flight hours during his career. Additionally, he served as an instructor in the A-7 Corsair, F-4 Phantom and F-15 Eagle in operational and training units. Hester commanded the 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 18th Operations Group, 35th Fighter Wing, 53rd Wing and United States Forces Japan and 5th Air Force at Yokota Air Base. He also served as Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command in Hurlburt Field, Florida.

Hester's staff tours include duty in the Directorate of Plans, as a member of the Commander's Action Group at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Chief of the Air Force's Legislative Liaison Office at the United States House of Representatives, Division Chief in J-5 of the Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and Director of Air Force Legislative Liaison for the Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He also served as the Air Component Commander and force provider to Joint Task Force-536 during Operation Unified Assistance in support of the South Asia tsunami relief effort.

Education

Assignments

  1. January 1971 – December 1971, student, pilot training, Columbus AFB, Mississippi
  2. January 1972 – December 1972, A-7D pilot, 333rd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
  3. January 1973 – July 1973, A-7D aircraft commander, 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand
  4. August 1973 – August 1974, A-7D aircraft commander, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
  5. September 1974 – December 1976, aide-de-camp and F-4 instructor, later, F-15 instructor, 311th, 555th and 461st Tactical Fighter Training Squadrons, Luke AFB, Arizona
  6. January 1977 – June 1979, F-15 instructor and flight examiner, 525th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bitburg AB, West Germany
  7. July 1979 – July 1980, student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
  8. August 1980 – August 1983, action officer, Forces Division, Directorate of Plans, later, member, Commander's Action Group, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
  9. September 1983 – November 1986, F-15 instructor and assistant operations officer, 27th Tactical Fighter Squadron, later, operations officer and Commander, 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia
  10. December 1986 – July 1989, Chief, Legislative Liaison Office, U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Legislative Liaison, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  11. August 1989 – June 1990, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
  12. July 1990 – July 1992, Vice Commander, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, later, Commander, 18th Operations Group, Kadena AB, Japan
  13. August 1992 – June 1993, Senior Defense Fellow, Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
  14. July 1993 – July 1994, Chief, Weapons Technology Control Division, J-5, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.
  15. August 1994 – November 1995, Joint Chiefs of Staff representative to the Committee on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Vienna, Austria
  16. November 1995 – February 1997, Commander, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
  17. February 1997 – December 1997, Commander, 53rd Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida
  18. December 1997 – August 1999, Director, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
  19. September 1999 – November 2001, Commander, U.S. Forces Japan, and Commander, 5th Air Force, Yokota AB, Japan
  20. January 2002 – July 2004, Commander, AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Florida
  21. July 2004 – November 2007, Commander, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Component Commander for the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Hickam AFB, Hawaii

Awards and decorations

COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Medal ribbon.svg
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg Air Force Commendation Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg Combat Readiness Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars
AFEMRib.svg Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Vietnam Service Ribbon.svg
Vietnam Service Medal with one service star
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon.svg Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon.svg
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon.svg Air Force Training Ribbon
JPN Zuiho-sho (WW2) 1Class BAR.svg Japanese Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure
Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal

Other achievements

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance L. Smith</span> United States Air Force general

Lance L. Smith is a retired United States Air Force general who last served as the Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia, and NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation from November 10, 2005, to November 9, 2007. A highly decorated combat veteran, the general retired from active duty on January 1, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Eberhart</span> US Air Force general

Ralph Edward "Ed" Eberhart is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force (USAF). He served as the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He was in charge of NORAD during the September 11 attacks in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William T. Hobbins</span> United States Air Force general

William Thomas Hobbins is a former Air Force general, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe; commander of Air Component Command, Ramstein; and director of Joint Air Power Competence Center, Kalkar, Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel P. Leaf</span> United States General

Daniel P. Leaf is a former United States Air Force officer; he served as deputy commander and acting commander of United States Pacific Command at Camp H. M. Smith in Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles F. Wald</span> United States Air Force general

Charles F. Wald is a retired United States Air Force general and former Deputy Commander of United States European Command. He retired on July 1, 2006, and was succeeded by General William E. Ward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victor E. Renuart Jr.</span> United States Air Force general

Victor Eugene "Gene" Renuart Jr. is a retired United States Air Force four-star general. His last military assignment was as the commander of United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command from March 23, 2007, to May 19, 2010. Prior to that, he served as director of strategic plans and policy, the Joint Staff. Renuart retired from the Air Force on July 1, 2010, after over 39 years of service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burton M. Field</span> United States Air Force general

Burton M. Field is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general. Prior to retirement he served as the deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements, Headquarters United States Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrol Chandler</span> US Air Force general

Carrol Howard "Howie" Chandler, is a retired United States Air Force four-star general. He last served as the 35th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from August 27, 2009, to January 14, 2011. He previously served as commander of Pacific Air Forces from November 2007 to August 20, 2009, and deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements from October 23, 2005, to November 29, 2007. As vice chief, he presided over the Air Staff and served as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Requirements Oversight Council and Deputy Advisory Working Group. He assisted the chief of staff with organizing, training, and equipping of 680,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. He retired from the Air Force by March 1, 2011. In 2012 he joined Pratt & Whitney Military Engines as vice president for military business development and international programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hal M. Hornburg</span> United States Air Force general

General Hal M. Hornburg was a four star U.S. Air Force general and commander, Air Combat Command, with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and Air Component Commander for U.S. Joint Forces Command and U.S. Northern Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary L. North</span> United States Air Force general

Gary Lewis North is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as commander of Pacific Air Forces and executive director of Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, from August 19, 2009, to August 9, 2012. Pacific Air Forces is responsible for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports 45,000 airmen serving principally in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Korea and Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregory Feest</span> United States Air Force general

Gregory A. Feest is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) major general who last served as the Chief of Safety of the United States Air Force, Headquarters USAF, Washington, D.C., and commander of the Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert J. Carlisle</span> United States Air Force general

Herbert Jay "Hawk" Carlisle is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who last served as the commander of Air Combat Command, at Langley Field, Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia. He also previously served as the commander of Pacific Air Forces while concurrently serving as air component commander for United States Pacific Command and executive director of Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii. He officially retired from the Air Force on May 1, 2017, with 39 years of service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tod D. Wolters</span> US Air Force general

Tod Daniel Wolters is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who last served as the commander of U.S. European Command and concurrently as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). He previously served as the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa. He assumed his capstone assignment at the European Command in Germany on May 2, 2019 and at the Allied Command in Belgium on May 3, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy</span> United States Air Force general

Terrence John O'Shaughnessy is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who previously served as the commander of United States Northern Command and as the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey L. Harrigian</span> US Air Force general

Jeffrey Lee Harrigian is a retired United States Air Force general who last served as the commander of United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa from May 2020 to June 2022. He concurrently served as the commander of Allied Air Command and director of the Joint Air Power Competence Center. He previously served as deputy commander and as commander of United States Air Forces Central Command. Raised in Sparks, Nevada, he graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in International Affairs and was commissioned in 1985. He assumed his capstone assignment on May 1, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph T. Guastella</span> United States Air Force general

Joseph Thomas Guastella Jr. is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Air Force who served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the United States Air Force. He was commissioned upon his graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David R. Iverson</span> US Air Force officer (born c. 1969)

David R. Iverson is a United States Air Force lieutenant general who serves as the deputy commander of United States Forces Korea, commander of the Air Component Command of the United Nations Command, commander of the Air Component Command of the ROK/US Combined Forces Command, and commander of the Seventh Air Force. He previously served as the director of air and cyberspace operations of Pacific Air Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John L. Dolan</span> US Air Force officer (born c. 1964)

Lieutenant General John L. Dolan is a retired United States Air Force officer who last served as the director for operations (J-3) on the Joint Chiefs of Staff from August 2016 to October 2018. Before that, he served as the commander of United States Forces Japan and commander of 5th Air Force from June 2015 to August 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salvatore A. Angelella</span> US Air Force officer (born c. 1959)

Lieutenant General Salvatore A. "Sam" Angelella is a retired United States Air Force officer who last served as commander, United States Forces Japan and commander, 5th Air Force from July 2012 to August 2015. During that assignment, Angelella was the senior United States military representative in Japan and commander of United States Air Force units in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey A. Remington</span> US Air Force officer (born c. 1955)

Jeffrey A. Remington is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who last served as deputy commander of United Nations Command Korea; deputy commander of U.S. Forces Korea; commander of Air Component Command, Republic of Korea/U.S. Combined Forces Command; and commander of 7th Air Force, from November 2008 to March 2012. During that assignment, he also served as the U.S. representative to the joint committee for the Status of Forces agreement between the two countries.

References

  1. "West Point, Mississippi | West Point Hall of Fame".

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force