John P. McConnell

General John Paul McConnell (February 7, 1908 – November 21, 1986) 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.

Early life and education John Paul McConnell was the son of Dr. Samuel Paul McConnell, a medical doctor, and Desseau M. (Dorsey) McConnell. A native of Booneville, Arkansas, McConnell graduated magna cum laude from Henderson Brown College at Arkadelphia, Arkansas, with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1927. He entered West Point a year later and, at the time of his graduation on June 10, 1932, was First Captain of the Corps of Cadets. After taking flying training at Randolph and Kelly Fields, Texas, he received his pilot wings in 1933.

Military career General John P. McConnell being presented with Air Force Distinguished Service Medal by President Richard Nixon at the White House on July 17, 1969. A fighter pilot during his early years in the then-Army Air Corps, later Army Air Forces, McConnell gained broad experience through a variety of operational and administrative assignments, including duty as assistant executive in the Office of the Chief of Air Forces in Washington. Subsequently, he served in key Air Force positions in both Asia and Europe. and assumed the position of Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force on 1 February 1965, relieving General Curtis E. LeMay. His appointment as chief of staff was extended to July 1969.

The public library in his hometown of Booneville, Arkansas is named in his honor and contains many items of memorabilia from his years of service to the US Air Force, including service medals, decorations and commendations as of 2016. Effective dates of promotion Source: and has increasingly become a topical discussion issue and object lesson for officers attending the nation's senior service colleges (i.e., Air War College, Army War College, Naval War College and National War College).

The Arkansas Aviation Historical Society inducted McConnell into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1985.

McConnell's son, Dorsey W. M. McConnell, is the Acting Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney in the Scottish Episcopal Church. He had served as bishop diocesan in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh from 2012 to 2021. Another son, Bruce W. McConnell, was CEO and President at the EastWest Institute.

Awards and honors McConnell's decorations include:

Badges

Personal decorations Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf clusterArmy Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit with three bronze oak leaf clustersDistinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star MedalAir Medal

Campaign and service medals American Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with two four campaign starsWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service Medal with bronze service star

Service, training, and marksmanship awards Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters

Foreign awards Special Grand Cordon (Collar) of the Order of the Sacred Tripod (China)Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Tripod (China)Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cloud and Banner (China)Order of the Cloud and Banner with ribbon (China)Order of Luoshu (China)War Memorial Medal (China)Commander of the Legion of Honour (France)Commander of the Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom)

Foreign badges Republic of China Air Force pilot wings