Robert A. Buethe (born 1939 in Chicago, Illinois) is a retired major general and former Acting Surgeon General of the United States Air Force.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Beloit College in 1960 and a doctor of medicine degree from Northwestern University Medical School in 1964. [1]
Buethe joined the United States Air Force in 1969. He served four years as Chief of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Barksdale Air Force Base before transferring to Headquarters Strategic Air Command as Chief of the Clinical Medicine Division, Office of the Surgeon.
In 1974, he was given command of the hospital at Plattsburgh Air Force Base. He was the youngest hospital commander in the Strategic Air Command at the time at the age of 35. Buethe would later assume command of the hospitals Pease Air Force Base and at Barksdale. During his time at Barksdale, he also served as a medical advisor to the commander of the Eighth Air Force.
In 1980, Buethe was named Deputy Command Surgeon at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces Europe. While there, he was prominent in the creating the medical standards for the NATO Boeing E-3 Sentry crews. In 1981, he organized and commanded Medical Red Flag-Munich, the Air Force's largest medical readiness exercise.
Buethe transferred to the Office of the Surgeon General after returning to the U.S. In 1985, he became Director of Medical Plans and Resources after having previously served as deputy director. As such, he took part in reviewing and approving all Air Force medical programs and projects. In 1987, he was named Command Surgeon at Headquarters, Tactical Air Command.
Buethe was named Director of Medical Programs and Resources of the Air Force in 1991. He served as Acting Surgeon General of the Air Force beginning in 1994. [2] He retired after his term of service.
Awards he received include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
General John Paul McConnell was the sixth Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief of staff, McConnell served in a dual capacity. He was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff which, as a body, acts as the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. In his other capacity, he was responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force for managing the vast human and materiel resources of the world's most powerful aerospace force.
General Larry D. Welch 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.
Lieutenant General Tome H. Walters Jr. was Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Arlington, Virginia. The agency directs and oversees U.S. foreign military sales, foreign military financing programs, international military education and training programs, and humanitarian assistance and demining programs.
Lieutenant General Robert J. "Bob" Elder Jr. is the former Commander, 8th Air Force; Commander, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; and Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space and Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. He is now a member of the research faculty at George Mason University. As one of three active-duty numbered air forces in Air Combat Command, 8th Air Force provides long-range global strike, battle management, surveillance and reconnaissance, intelligence, information operations, tactical air control, and expeditionary heavy construction capabilities to combatant commanders. The "Mighty Eighth" also conducted computer network operations as the Air Force component to the Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations before that duty was transferred to 24th Air Force, and trains Air and Space Operations Center personnel for worldwide deployment and participation in the multinational Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment.
Brigadier General Clifford Schoeffler was director of operations and training in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He was a command pilot with more than 10,000 flying hours accumulated during his career.
General Joseph James Nazzaro was commander in chief of Pacific Air Forces with headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii and Commanders-in-Chief of The Strategic Air Command with headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
Lieutenant General Lincoln D. Faurer was United States Air Force officer who served as director of the National Security Agency and chief of the Central Security Service from 1981 to 1985.
Lieutenant General George Peach Taylor Jr. USAF (Ret.) was the 18th Surgeon General of the United States Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. General Taylor served as the senior Air Force officer responsible for comprehensive management of the Air Force Medical Service. In this capacity, he advises the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff, as well as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, on matters pertaining to the medical aspects of the air expeditionary force and the health care of 2.6 million Air Force beneficiaries. The Surgeon General has authority to commit resources for the Air Force Medical Service, to make decisions affecting the delivery of medical services, and to develop plans, programs and procedures to support worldwide medical service missions. The Surgeon General exercises direction, guidance and technical management of more than 42,000 people assigned to 74 medical treatment facilities worldwide. From September 7, 2010 – December 22, 2010 he served as the acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Charles H. Roadman II was the 16th United States Air Force Surgeon General (1996–1999), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington D.C. His father, Charles H. Roadman (1914–2000), was also an Air Force flight surgeon and command pilot.
Lieutenant General (Dr.) Edgar Ratcliffe Anderson Jr. was the 15th Surgeon General of the United States Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington D.C.
General James Arthur Hill was a U.S. Air Force four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.
General Jack Joseph Catton was a United States Air Force four-star general and was commander of the Air Force Logistics Command with headquarters at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and of the Military Airlift Command.
Eugene Emil Habiger is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Strategic Command (USCINCSTRAT) from 1996 to 1998. After retiring from the military on August 1, 1998, he served as Director of Security and Emergency Operations, U.S. Department of Energy, from 1999 to 2001.
George James Eade was a four star general in the United States Air Force who served as Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command from 1973 to 1975.
Major General Jack W. Ramsaur II is the mobilization assistant to the commander, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He is the principal advisor to the commander on Reserve Component matters. He assists the director in planning and executing all assigned missions.
Horace Milton Wade was a former general in the United States Air Force and a former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.
James P. McCarthy is a retired United States Air Force general. His last assignment before retirement was as Deputy Commander in Chief of the United States European Command. In retirement, McCarthy has served on a number of corporate and government advisory boards, as well as serving as the ARDI Professor of National Security at the United States Air Force Academy.
C. Donald Alston is a retired major general in the United States Air Force.
George E. Schafer was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force who served as surgeon general of the United States Air Force from 1975 to 1978.
Melbourne Kimsey is a retired brigadier general in the United States Air Force who served as director of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex from 1981 to 1983,