Merrill A. McPeak October 30, 1990 - October 25, 1994 Merrill A. McPeak earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from San Diego State College in 1957. A distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, he entered the Air Force in November 1957, receiving his pilot=s wings in January 1959. As a young officer, McPeak flew FB104 Starfighters and FB100 Super Sabres with various units in the United States and England before joining the Thunderbirds in 1966. In Vietnam, he flew 269 combat missions in 1968B69. In the 1970s, McPeak attended the Armed Forces Staff College,
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Merrill A. McPeak October 30, 1990 - October 25, 1994 Merrill A. McPeak earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from San Diego State College in 1957. A distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, he entered the Air Force in November 1957, receiving his pilot=s wings in January 1959. As a young officer, McPeak flew FB104 Starfighters and FB100 Super Sabres with various units in the United States and England before joining the Thunderbirds in 1966. In Vietnam, he flew 269 combat missions in 1968B69. In the 1970s, McPeak attended the Armed Forces Staff College, the National War College, and George Washington University, where he earned a master=s degree in international relations. Success in a variety of staff positions and commands led to his promotion to brigadier general in 1981. Service as Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans, for the Tactical Air Command followed. Following promotion to lieutenant general in 1985, McPeak became Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources. A fourth star and command of Pacific Air Forces ensued in 1988. He replaced General Michael J. Dugan as Chief of Staff on October 30, 1990. General McPeak oversaw the final stage of the build-up for the Gulf War of 1991 and the conduct of operations during the struggle. He also attempted to foresee the role of the Air Force after the Cold War and to reconfigure the service accordingly. The Strategic Air Command and Air Force Systems Command, shaped by the needs of the Cold War, were replaced by the Air Combat Command and the Air Force Materiel Command. In keeping with prevailing expectations about the post-Cold War era, both the new commands were structured to provide the flexibility to cope at short notice with limited struggles in unforeseeable places. Understanding the sentiment in favor of reduced military spending after the Cold War, McPeak preemptively began to reduce the number of personnel in the Department of the Air Force to control the inevitable downsizin