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Brigadier General Richard H. Dunwoody is commander of the 554th Operations Support Wing, U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
General Dunwoody was born in New York City in 1932 and graduated from Westbury (N.Y.) High School in 1950. He received an associate degree in applied science from the Long Island Technical Institute in 1952 and a bachelor's degree (magna cum laude) in civil engineering from the University of New Hampshire in 1966. The general is also a graduate of the Air War College, Industrial College of the Armed Forces and Squadron Officer School.
He entered the aviation cadet program in May 1953 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1954. His first operational assignment was as an aircraft observer and radar interceptor with the 66th Fighter-interceptor Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. In July 1957 he began primary pilot training at Hondo Air Base, Texas. After his basic pilot training at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas, he was assigned to the interceptor pilot course at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., flying F-86D's. Upon graduation in March 1959, he moved to the 48th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va., where he flew F-102s and F-106s until June 1963.
The general then enrolled at the University of New Hampshire under the Air Force Institute of Technology program. Following graduation in June 1966, he was assigned to the 526th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as an F-102 pilot and squadron operations officer. He returned to the United States in August 1969 to attend the operational training course in F-100C's at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
In July 1970 General Dunwoody transferred to his first assignment in Air Force special operations. He was assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he served as a flight commander and then as a squadron operations officer. He flew more than 120 A-1E "Sandy" Skyraider combat sorties over Laos, North Vietnam and the Republic of Vietnam.
Returning from Southeast Asia in August 1971, General Dunwoody was named director of operations and maintenance, civil engineering, Headquarters Air Force Communications Service, Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Mo. In June 1973 he was assigned as the base commander, Defense Supply Agency, Philadelphia. General Dunwoody transferred to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., in July 1974 to command the 363rd Civil Engineering Squadron. In November 1974 he become deputy commander, 363rd Combat Support Group.
General Dunwoody transferred to Hurlburt Field, Fla., in July 1975 to command the 823rd Civil Engineering Squadron (RED HORSE). In July 1976 he became vice commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field and commander in July 1977. He assumed his present command in April 1980.
A command pilot with more than 5,500 flying hours, General Dunwoody has flown F-86s, F-89s, F-94s, F-100s, F-102s, F-106s, A-1 Skyraiders, AC-130 Gunships, A-l0s and F-15 Eagles. His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with five oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Readiness Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
He was promoted to brigadier general Sept. 1, 1980, with date of rank Aug. 7, 1980.
