Robert D. Russ

Robert Dale Russ
Robert Dale Russ
	4th Tactical Fighter Wing; Tactical Air Command
Battles/wars	Cold War; Vietnam War; Gulf War

Robert Dale Russ (March 7, 1933 – May 22, 1997) was a United States Air Force (USAF) general and commander of Tactical Air Command.

Biography

Early life

Russ was born in 1933, in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from Wapato High School in Washington in 1951. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Washington State University in 1955.^[2]

He was commissioned as a

F-100A Super Sabre gunnery school at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.^[2]

In May 1957, Russ was assigned to the

Hamilton Air Force Base, California, in May 1962, the general served as chief of the Fighter Section, Directorate of Tactical Evaluation, 28th Air Division, until August 1964.^[2]

After graduation from

Republic of Vietnam, where he flew 242 combat missions, of which 50 were over North Vietnam.^[2]

Upon returning to the

363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in January 1974.^[2]

Later career

Russ was vice commander of the

4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, from February 1974 until August 1975, when he became wing commander. In February 1977 he became assistant deputy chief of staff for plans at Tactical Air Command (TAC) headquarters, and in July 1977 was named the command's assistant deputy chief of staff, operations, for operations and training. He assumed duties as assistant deputy chief of staff, operations, for control and support in July 1978.^[2]

In November 1979 Russ moved to USAF headquarters and was appointed director of operational requirements, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Research, Development and Acquisition. The general was named vice commander of TAC in October 1982 and in July 1983 became special assistant to the vice chief of staff, Washington, D.C. In October 1983 he became deputy chief of staff for research, development and acquisition at USAF headquarters. He assumed command of TAC in May 1985. He was promoted to general May 22, 1985, with same date of rank.

Arlington, Virginia.^[3]