Richard C. Bethurem

Last updated
Richard C. Berthurem
Born (1943-01-24) January 24, 1943 (age 75)
Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service 1966–1998
Rank Lieutenant General

Richard C. Berthurem (born January 24, 1943) is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Air Force. [1] He was the commander of Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, Naples, Italy, and commander, 16th Air Force, United States Air Forces in Europe, Aviano Air Base, Italy. He was the air principal subordinate commander and the joint and combined forces air component commander for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Southern Region. He was responsible for the planning and employment of NATO's air forces in the Mediterranean area of operations from Gibraltar to Eastern Turkey, and was the air commander for air operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He is also a former Commandant of Cadets at the USAF Academy.

United States Air Force Air and space warfare branch of the United States Armed Forces

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial and space warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces, and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially formed as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the fourth in order of precedence. The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world. The Air Force articulates its core missions as air and space superiority, global integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control.

Gibraltar British Overseas Territory

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. It has an area of 6.7 km2 (2.6 sq mi) and is bordered to the north by Spain. The landscape is dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar at the foot of which is a densely populated town area, home to over 30,000 people, primarily Gibraltarians. It shares a maritime border with Morocco.

Berthurem entered the Air Force in 1966 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. He commanded the 461st Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.; 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.; 831st Air Division, George Air Force Base, California; 4404th Composite Wing, Dhahran Air Base, Saudi Arabia; and the Air Warfare Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He is a command pilot, having flown more than 4,300 hours in F-4, F-104, F-15 and F-16 aircraft, with 385 combat missions in Southeast Asia.

Nellis Air Force Base

Nellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation in southern Nevada with military schools and more squadrons than any other USAF base. Nellis hosts air combat exercises such as Exercise Red Flag and close air support exercises such as Green Flag-West flown in "Military Operations Area (MOA) airspace", associated with the nearby Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). The base also has the Combined Air and Space Operations Center-Nellis.

His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 21 oak leaf clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with eight service stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

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References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates  public domain material from the United States Government document " http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/107730/lieutenant-general-richard-c-bethurem.aspx ".